By Kathy Laird
Jacob Bayes, 31, of Shelby found out quickly that telephone usage at the Crawford County Justice Center is a privilege that can be revoked.
Bayes is awaiting trial later this month on charges of aggravated burglary a first-degree felony and domestic violence a fourth-degree felony. If convicted, Bayes could serve more than 10 years in prison.
According to charges, Bayes and his co-defendant, Robert Hardesty of Mansfield, broke into the home of Bayes’ ex-girlfriend. Hardesty tried to lure the victim out of her home, and when that didn’t work, the men kicked the door in. Hardesty then went to an upstairs bedroom and held the victim’s current boyfriend at bey so that he was unable to help the victim.
Bayes came to the house because he allegedly wanted to kill the victim and her current boyfriend. A neighbor heard the commotion and called police. When police arrived they found Bayes and Hardesty inside the victim’s home.
Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler asked Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold to revoke Bayes’ phone privileges. Hoovler said that Bayes has made 50-70 attempts to call the victim and has used a third party, in particular Bayes’ mother, to contact the victim.
Hoovler is looking into possible charges of collusion against Bayes’ mother.
Bayes appeared in court with his appointed attorney Joel Spitzer. Spitzer explained to the court that Bayes did not realize there was an order of protection against him restricting his ability to contact the victim.
Leuthold noted that there could have been an oversight and ordered the court to make sure Bayes had a copy of the no contact order before he was returned to jail. Leuthold ordered that the sherriff to revoke Bayes phone privileges.
“The order, Mr. Bayes is no contact, and I mean no contact,” Leuthold said. “If I find out a third party out there at the jail is trying to make contact with this victim on your behalf they will lose their privileges also.”
Bayes co-defendant, Robert Hardesty pleaded guilty and currently is serving a ten-year prison sentence in the case.
Also seen in the courtroom was 33-year-old Duane Hicks.
Hicks appeared in court Monday to officially reject a plea deal offered by the State of Ohio. Hicks is charged with burglary and is facing up to 18 months in prison.
Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler offered Hicks a plea deal, which included nine months in prison with credit for jail time served. Hoovler also was willing to dismiss a misdemeanor charge in the case.
With rejection of the plea, Hoovler formally withdrew the plea offer. Hicks is scheduled to go on trial for the burglary on Nov. 16.