By Kathy Laird
Julia L. Petrella, 21, of Bucyrus was sentenced to 12 months in prison on a probation violation after pleading guilty to possession of drugs, which in this case, was K-2 or synthetic marijuana.
On Oct. 2, emergency services were dispatched to Petrella’s residence where two men had overdosed on drugs. Petrella was found sleeping in a chair near the two men who overdosed.
She also was charged with not reporting contact with the police and for associating with a known felon; a condition of her probation.
In exchange for her guilty plea, Crawford County Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler agreed to drop the newest indictment.
“There is no doubt in my mind that you were using drugs and endangering the life of yourself and your unborn child,” Judge Sean Leuthold said. “Nobody just takes a nap while two people overdose.”
Leuthold went on to share his thoughts on mothers who become addicted to drugs. Noting the extreme disadvantages, a child faces, he likened their chance to get into a good home to a coin toss.
“They never know where they’re going to end up,” Leuthold said.
Leuthold said children of drug addicted mothers are the most innocent of victims and end up in bad situations because their mothers were not available to care for them.
“I’ve seen this a lot lately, where children end up being on the receiving end of crimes; especially crimes of a sexual nature when they have to be taken from the mother,” Leuthold said.
He told the defendant she should think about that while she is in prison.
“If something happens to your child while you’re in prison, then that’s on you,” Leuthold said.
Leuthold felt Petrella seemed untouched by his words.
“I see this is falling on deaf ears,” Leuthold said. “I’m putting you in prison where you’ll receive some care and maybe this baby has a chance at a healthy delivery.”