BUCYRUS — After a long hearing that determined how three defendants would be tried, all three accepted plea deals.
Brandy Conley, 38, of Shelby pleaded guilty to trafficking in drugs and received five years on community control. Conley is the wife of Tyler Morris, 35, of Shelby. Morris pleaded guilty to four counts of trafficking in drugs and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Morris was sentenced to 59 months in prison.
Staton pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt behavior. He will spend four years in prison.
Alan Glosser, 20 and currently on judicial release had his original sentence imposed on Monday by Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold. Glosser was on judicial release after being convicted of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Glosser appeared in court with his attorney Grant Garverick.
Glosser admitted to violating the terms and conditions of his community control by testing positive for marijuana. Leuthold allowed both the state and Garverick to argue what sentence should be imposed.
Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler told the court that Glosser had only been on community control since May 2018.
“His original conviction was for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor,” Hoovler said. “We sent him to prison and then gave him a chance to show the court he could comply with the conditions. He has not been able to comply, so we ask that the 18-month sentence be imposed.”
Garverick took a different approach to making the argument that his client should be allowed to remain on community control. Noting that he had smoked marijuana to calm down and sleep, Garverick said his client has been employed since his release.
“Sending him to prison isn’t going to keep him from marijuana. I would propose some time in jail here and then back on community control,” Garverick said.
Leuthold quickly responded to Garverick’s claim.
“This is the dumbest argument I have ever heard,” Leuthold said. “And I hear it all the time. People argue that there is no reason to put a person in prison for drugs because there are drugs in prison.
“The idea that you can get just as high in prison as on the street is ludicrous,” Leuthold continued. “People don’t overdose in prison. They overdose all the time in the streets. Of course, there is always going to be contraband in prison but not to the extent to make this argument.”
Leuthold decided to consider what he should do in sentencing Glosser.
“I will have my decision in a couple of days” Leuthold said.
One dad decided to plead guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control. Scott Stephens, 44, of Marion asked the court to give him a flat two years in prison so that he would not be subjected to community control.
Leuthold carefully explained the ramifications of the plea and Stephens said he was sure he wanted to go to prison.
“This is the craziest case I’ve ever had,” Leuthold said.
According to Probation Officer Mark Wurm, Stephens changed his address without notifying the court, failed to report to office visits, admitted to the use of opiates, failed to report contact with the Marion Police Department and failed to make child support payments.
Leuthold sentenced Stephens to 6 months on each count for a total of two years in prison.
Brooke Montgomery, 28, of Crestline had her 12-month prison sentence re-imposed after she admitted to violating the terms and conditions of her community control. She pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of drugs.
Probation Officer Mark Alspach said Montgomery had been placed in Judge Leuthold’s Intensive Supervisor And Treatment program. Alspach told the court she changed addresses without notifying the court, was charged with falsification in Mansfield, and stopped attending court ordered ISAT meetings.
Before sentencing her to 12 months in prison, Leuthold wished her good luck.
“We really tried to help you. We bent over backwards to get you on the right track,” Leuthold said. “This is a sad day.”