BUCYRUS — Jason Lee Conn, 46, of Bucyrus appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday. Conn pleaded guilty to nine different charges stemming from a drug bust on Willard Street in 2018.
Conn pleaded guilty to two third-degree felony charges of possession of drugs and having weapons under disability, each punishable with as many as 36 months in prison. Conn also pleaded guilty to six counts of possession of drugs, all fifth-degree felony charges punishable with as many as 12 months in prison. He also was found guilty of a fifth-degree felony charge for possession of a dangerous drug.
A fifth-degree felony charge for unlawful possession of a dangerous ordnance was dismissed.
Judge Sean Leuthold also ordered the forfeit all drug-related property including firearms to the Bucyrus Police Department. In the long list of property, Leuthold said Conn would take just about anything someone had to offer in exchange for drugs. Leuthold noted the drug lifestyle leads to drug crimes and users end up dealing drugs.
Before sentencing, Leuthold asked Conn if he had anything to say. Conn told the court he had been in trouble in Wyandot County and received harsh punishment from the judge there.
“I’ve learned I really picked the worst county to do this stuff.” Conn said.
Judge Leuthold responded; “You’re going to go do your time and you’d better straighten your life out. I’d advise you to live a law-abiding life if you come back here. You really don’t seem like a bad guy, but we have no tolerance for this crap. If you can’t live a law-abiding life, then stay the hell out of Crawford and Wyandot County.”
Conn was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He will receive credit for time served in jail.
In other court proceedings, Craig Potts, 58, of Shelby pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs, both third-degree felony charges punishable by as many as 36 months in prison, and two counts of trafficking in drugs, both fourth-degree felony charges punishable by as many as 18 months in prison.
Leuthold noted intense negotiations took place to reach the plea agreement. As part of Potts’ guilty plea, the state agreed to dismiss an intimidation charge.
When asked if he had anything to say, Potts told the court, “This changed my life.”
Potts told the court that he has been doing drugs since he was nine years old.
“This is the only place that has offered to help me,” Potts said.
Leuthold sentenced Potts to 90 months in prison. He will receive 321 days credit for time served in jail.
Tracy Tuttle, 46, of Bucyrus appeared in Common Pleas Court to ask for a new attorney.
She was originally represented by Bucyrus attorney Brad Starkey. In her request she asked for three specific attorneys to be appointed to her case in place of Starkey.
Leuthold explained to Tuttle that he could not appoint any of her requests because they were associated with the cases of her codefendants.
“Normally I do not allow a change in a court-appointed attorney,” Leuthold said. “However, there is substantial prison time associated with this case if you are indeed found guilty. I try to take that into consideration.”
Leuthold then appointed attorney Sebastian Berger to take Starkey’s case. Tuttle is charged with a first-degree felony charge for arson, punishable by as many as 10 years in prison.