BUCYRUS — Six defendants were arraigned in Crawford County Common Pleas Court Tuesday on charges from the most recent session of the Crawford County Grand Jury.
Nathan Pollitt, 27, of Bucyrus was charged with one count of endangering children, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison and one charge of domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable with up to six months in jail.
According to Prosecutor Matt Crall, Pollitt disciplined his five-month-old son by punching him in the left eye, causing bruises. Crall said he reluctantly summoned the defendant into court, choosing to do so because of the current situation at the jail. Crall also noted that the defendant had moved out of the home.
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold examined pictures of the victim. He addressed the victim’s mother who was in the court room. She verified that the defendant was no longer residing in the home and asked for a no-contact order for the victim, the victim’s sister, and herself.
Leuthold entered a not guilty plea on Pollitt’s behalf. Leuthold was reluctant to give the defendant a personal recognizance bond but did so, on the condition that he have no contact with the victim or any member of the household. Pollitt was represented by attorney, Derek Harley.
Dehlen Hyden, 29, of Bucyrus was charged with eight counts including failure to comply, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison; two counts of theft (AR-15 Rifles), each third-degree felonies and each punishable with up to three years in prison; one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison; one count of having weapons under disabilities, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison; one count of theft of a vehicle (cruiser), a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison; unauthorized use of telephone property (radio), a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one years in prison; escape, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison; vandalism (Crawford County Sheriff’s Office), a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison; and one count of a court-ordered protection violation, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable with up to six months in jail.
According to allegations, Hyden was arrested and placed in a cruiser. He managed to wriggle his way over the seat and took off with the cruiser. Hyden used one of the rifles in an unsuccessful attempt to shoot the handcuffs open.
A long chase ensued during which the defendant allegedly taunted deputies on the cruiser radio before eventually being captured. If convicted on all charges, Hyden could be sentenced to as many as 21 years in prison and ordered to pay fines of more than $68,000. Judge
Leuthold entered a not guilty plea on Hyden’s behalf and upheld the $2,000,000 bond set in Municipal Court. Attorney Brad Starkey was appointed to represent Hyden.
Veronika Stephens, 29, of Delaware was indicted on one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison; one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison; one second-degree misdemeanor for drug abuse instruments punishable with up to 90 days in jail; and one fourth-degree misdemeanor for having drug paraphernalia, punishable with up to 30 days in jail.
According to allegations, Stephens was transported to jail for a suspected OVI and to call someone to pick her up. While at the jail, she used drugs in the bathroom. Leuthold entered a not guilty plea on Stephens’s behalf. Bond was set at $25,000 and Tani Eyer was the attorney appointed to represent Stephens.
Kyle Myers, 29, of Bucyrus was indicted on one count of tampering with evidence, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison and eight counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, each fifth-degree felonies and each punishable with up to one year in prison.
Myers was in custody awaiting transport to prison to serve 15 months on the same charge. He was also ordered to register as Tier II sexual offender for the next 25 years.
According to allegations, Myers’ phone was searched by probation officers and found to have additional pictures of himself and the victim. Leuthold ordered Myers held on the new charges. Attorney Tom Nicholson was again appointed to represent Myers,
Andrew Dunn, 32, of Richwood was indicted on one count of failure to comply, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison and one count of possession of marijuana paraphernalia, a minor misdemeanor punishable with a $150 fine.
According to allegations, officers responded to a domestic violence call. While watching the residence, they observed Dunn and ordered him back. He went to his vehicle and fled, ignoring police orders to comply. Dunn took officers on a high-speed chase at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour in rainy conditions on hilly roads. Dunn was found in his car and admitted to smoking marijuana. He was taken to the hospital and escaped after treatment.
Leuthold entered a not guilty plea on Dunn’s behalf. Bond was set at $150,000 and Andrew Motter was appointed to represent Dunn.
Mitchell Hensley, 46, of Bucyrus was indicted on one count of possession of drugs, a second-degree felony punishable with up to eight years in prison and two counts of trafficking in drugs (oxycodone), each fourth-degree felonies, each punishable with up to 18 months in prison.
Leuthold entered a not guilty plea on Hensley’s behalf and Brad Starkey was appointed to represent Hensley.