BUCYRUS — Michael Keeton of Bucyrus appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court for sentencing after he escaped custody in June.
Keeton, 41, was placed in custody in early June after he violated the terms and condition of his community control. Keeton was in his street clothes awaiting transport to jail when he fell in the court bathroom, hitting his head.
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold ordered Keeton taken to Bucyrus Community Hospital for evaluation of his injuries on a medical furlough with the understanding he would return to jail upon medical clearance.
Keeton escaped the moment he was unsupervised. A warrant was issued for his arrest and he was arrested after a traffic stop in Scioto County last Saturday.
“Mr. Keeton, how are you doing? You don’t call, you don’t write,” Leuthold said. “I thought the whole medical situation was nonsense. You faked passing out in our bathroom and even though I thought it was staged, I gave you a medical furlough and you bolted.”
Keeton pleaded guilty to one count of escape, a third-degree felony punishable with up to 36 months in prison and guilty to a general probation violation with an underlying charge of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison. Keeton is facing charges in Scioto County for possession of meth.
“We did what we did, and you did what you did and now you’re going to prison,” Leuthold said before sentencing Keeton. “If you would have stayed put and reported back to jail, you would be doing about 18 months less than you’re doing now.”
Keeton told the court he was glad he escaped because he got to say goodbye to his mother.
“I’m glad you got to say goodbye to your mother but there was a better way to do it,” Leuthold said. “Had you waited and consulted with your lawyer, there’s a good chance I would have allowed you to go say goodbye to your mother. This could have been worked out.”
Leuthold sentenced Keeton to 12 months in prison on the escape charge and 12 months on the probation violation’s underlying charge of possession of drugs for a total of 24 months in prison. He will receive 106 days of jail time credit.