BUCYRUS — Matthew Lambert of Nevada appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court Thursday to plead guilty to two felony charges.
Lambert, 38, 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 illegal conveyance of drugs into a detention facility, also a third-degree felony, punishable with up to 36 months in prison.
Lambert was charged after he was pulled over in a traffic stop. While being pursued, Lambert threw syringes filled with opiates out of the car window. He confessed to the officer he had thrown them out of the car. Lambert was also charged when he tried to take sub Oxone into the Crawford County Jail.
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold sentenced Lambert to 36 months in prison for the tampering with evidence charge and 18 months in prison for the illegal conveyance of drugs into a detention center.
Leuthold said he was very troubled by the fact that liquid-filled syringes were thrown out of the car with no regard for safety of the people, especially children, who might encounter them.
“This is a problem in communities like Portland, but we are not going to let it happen here. It will not happen in Crawford County,” Leuthold said. “Crawford County is a nice place to live. The surrounding communities are nice as well. People enjoy walking in the community with their children or their pets without fear. They are not going to have to worry that they’ll somehow encounter needles. And that’s why you’re getting the maximum sentence on the tampering with evidence charge.”
In other court action, Nicholas Green, 28, of Shelby pleaded guilty to an amended charge of assault. Green was initially charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony, punishable with up to eight years in prison.
After consulting with the victim, Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler amended the charge to assault, a minor misdemeanor on the condition that Green pay full restitution before sentencing. Green paid restitution in the amount of $4965.85. The minor misdemeanor is punishable with up to 180 days in jail.
Leuthold accepted the amended plea and placed Green on five years of community control. Leuthold said he would review the case in one year and if Green had not been in any further trouble, he would end the control early.
“Look, you dodged a bullet here today and quite frankly if the victim in this case had not suggested this outcome it would not be happening,” Leuthold said. “You’re 28, nothing good is going to happen when you hang out in a bar. Stay out of trouble in Crawford County. If you come back here, I will remember you.”
Brandon Saum, 28, of Crestline pleaded guilty to identity fraud, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison.
Leuthold placed Saum on two years of community control.
“Don’t screw this up or you’re looking at prison,” Leuthold said.
Matthew Russell, 34, of Mansfield pleaded guilty to possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, punishable with up to 12 months in prison and possession of marijuana a minor misdemeanor punishable with a fine of $150.
Russell was placed in the treatment program in lieu of conviction program offered by the prosecutor’s office. If Russell successfully completes a drug treatment program the felony charge will be dropped.