Man sentenced to treatment program after parole violation

BUCYRUS — Jamie Lester, formerly of Marion, pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday.

Lester pleaded guilty to burglary in November 2015 and was sentenced to three years in prison for the third-degree felony. He was granted judicial release in June 2017 and placed on community control. Lester had been under the control of the Adult Parole Authority until he was transferred to Crawford County Probation Officer Chris Heydinger.

According to Heydinger, Lester refused a routine drug test in March but then admitted to using Xanax and marijuana. Before both the state and defense argued sentencing, Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold asked Heydinger about Lester’s behavior.

“Wasn’t he a bit of a jerk, Mr. Heydinger?” Leuthold asked.

“Yes, he had a poor attitude as though I was inconveniencing him,” said Lester, who told the court Lester was nervous and scared.

Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler noted that Lester had been unable to follow the rules and regulations of community control.

“This was a Felony II burglary pled down to a third-degree felony with a judicial release after about 18 months. The idea behind the deal was to give him a chance to abide by the rules on community control,” Hoovler said.

Hoovler also told the court that Lester made no payments on the restitution of $180.

“There is no second, third or fourth chance. This idea that you make a mistake, admit it and refuse a drug test is not OK,” Hoovler said.

Bucyrus attorney Brian Gernert said his client had been honest with the court.

“He’s been out since June of 2017. He is employed,” Gernert said. “He has a six-year-old and an 18-month-old at home. The relapse was triggered by stress in his life. He needs drug and alcohol counseling which has never been ordered.”

Leuthold double checked the court orders and realized because the charge was burglary there was no counseling ordered. When asked if he had anything to say, Lester told the court he knew he “messed up” and regrets it.

“All I know here is what you admitted to using. Because you refused a drug test, I don’t know what you might have tested positive for,” Leuthold said. “Had I known this there might have been a different outcome here. Stop using drugs! How hard is that?”

“I think if I can get counseling and stuff it would help,” Lester said.

After pondering the circumstances, Leuthold reimposed the remainder of Lester’s prison sentence but ordered him to the Volunteers of America treatment program in Mansfield.

“You got your counseling and we will see what happens. If you screw up and end up back here, you’re going to prison,” Leuthold said.

Leuthold ordered Lester held at the Crawford County Justice Center until he is transferred to the Mansfield program.

In other court action, Timothy Reed, 31, of Galion pleaded guilty to one count of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison. In a plea negotiation, Leuthold sentenced Reed to five years of community control. He was ordered to complete anger management assessment and follow-up treatment.

“I am reluctant to go along with this. You have one chance. You are to have no contact with the victim in this case in any manner including mail, telephone or social media,” Leuthold said. “Stay the hell away from this girl. You bother this girl and I will come down on you like a ton of bricks. I will not tolerate victims being harassed.”

Dylan Stauffer, 30, of Columbus pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control. Stauffer was placed on community control in 2019 after he pleaded guilty to possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison.

According to allegations, Stauffer was found in possession of Xanax in January and suffered an overdose on opiates which required hospitalization. Since release from the hospital Stauffer has been in a treatment program in Columbus.

Leuthold ordered Stauffer to prison with an exception.

“I’m not going to rush you to prison right away but give you a report date. Because you are in treatment, I will give you a personal recognizance bond,” Leuthold said. “If you violate between now and your report date, your chance for judicial release will be gone. You need to continue in treatment.”