BUCYRUS — A Galion man appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court to seek a bond reduction.
Scott Thompson of Galion appeared for the hearing with his court-appointed attorney, Grant Garverick.
Thompson, 31, is charged with two fifth-degree felonies for forgery, each punishable with up to 12 months in prison. He is currently being held on a $25,000 bond in the Crawford County Justice Center.
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold noted that Garverick is the third attorney appointed to the case. Efforts to reach a plea negotiation were not successful and Thompson indicated he wanted to proceed with a trial.
“Going to trial is your Constitutional right and I will do everything to ensure you get a fair trial,” Leuthold said.
Garverick asked the court to release his client on a personal recognizance bond so that he could aid in preparing his defense. Leuthold denied the bond reduction.
“On this kind of a case, I never reduce a bond this low,” Leuthold said.
In other court action, Wyatt Stapleton, 24, of Garrison, Kentucky pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony punishable with up to 36 months in prison and one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison.
Leuthold sentenced Stapleton to 10 months in prison on the tampering with evidence charge and six months for the possession of drugs charge for a total of 16 months in prison.
Shania Klingman, 24, of Bucyrus appeared in court to plead guilty to violating the terms and conditions of participation in the prosecutor’s Intervention in Lieu of Conviction Program.
Klingman was placed in the program in October after she pleaded guilty to possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison.
According to probation officer Kylie Sinclair, as of October 17, Klingman failed to appear for office visits. On October 25, Klingman refused to submit to a required urine screen but admitted to using drugs including heroin and meth.
“Well that wasn’t very successful at all,” Leuthold said. Klingman’s attorney, Tani Eyer, told the court her client was currently actively participating in a drug treatment program.
“This was an immense failure. You could’ve had this all gone if you would have completed the program,” Leuthold told Klingman. “You got your one bite of the apple and you spit it on the ground. We’re not taking any more nonsense from you.”
Leuthold put Klingman on five years of community control.
“If you don’t complete this successfully, I will send you to prison,” Leuthold said.
Milton Reed, 24, of Mansfield appeared in court to answer charges that he violated the terms and conditions of his community control.
Reed was placed on community control in October after he pleaded guilty to one count of improper handling of a firearm, a third-degree felony punishable with up to 36 months in prison.
According to probation officer Mark Alspach, on November 21, in Galion, Reed was charged with driving a car while under suspension and was in possession of a handgun and drugs including heroin, cocaine, and oxycodone.
Leuthold found probable cause to hold Reed in custody. Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler told the court that new charges will be forthcoming.
Leuthold appointed attorney Joel Spitzer to represent Reed.
“I’ve got guns and drugs with a gun charge as an underlying charge on the original case,” Leuthold said. “Bond is set at $100,000.”