BUCYRUS — Brent Stidham of Bucyrus appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court Monday to plead guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control. The violation was due to an additional charge of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison.
Stidham, 22, was originally placed on five years of community control in March after he pleaded guilty to having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison.
According to probation officer Mark Bohach, Stidham violated his community control after he failed to report for ordered office visits, refused a drug test, and associated with a known felon.
After a lengthy negotiation, Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold sentenced Stidham to ten months in prison for the drug possession charge and an additional 18 months in prison on the charge of having weapons under disability for a total of 28 months in prison.
“Look, you and I both know that you are using and spiraling out of control,” Leuthold said. “This is really fortunate for you because in these cases, the meth amounts just get larger and larger resulting in much bigger charges. You’ve got to get your act together. If you come out and go back down this road, you’re going to do more time or worse.”
In other court action, Johnathon Bell, age and address unknown, appeared in court to turn himself in for a crime he committed in 1989. Bell pleaded guilty to stealing a Velvet Ice Cream truck while intoxicated and gave free ice cream to residents of Bucyrus. Bell was placed on community control and ordered to pay Velvet Ice Cream Company more than $4000 in restitution.
Bell remained on community control until he left the jurisdiction for another state in 1993 and failed to report the address change. A warrant was issued for his arrest. Bell was recently injured in an accident and because of the outstanding warrant, Bell was denied benefits. He called Common Pleas Court to arrange a day to turn himself in.
Leuthold had a clear recollection of the case. He ordered the matter set for a full hearing and appointed Bell’s original attorney, Brad Starkey, to represent him. Leuthold granted Bell a personal recognizance bond for medical reasons.
Timothy Reed, 30, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control. Reed was placed on community control in March after he pleaded guilty to domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison.
According to probation officer Eric Bohach, Reed failed to report for office visits since April and tested positive for THC.
In a plea agreement, Leuthold sentenced Reed to a flat seven month in prison.