By Kathy Laird
CCN Correspondent
BUCYRUS — James Crews, 24, of Tiffin will spend the next five-and-a-half years in prison. Crews appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday with James Mayer. Crews pleaded guilty to one count of a first-degree felony charge for possession of drugs, in this case cocaine.
In a case charged separately, Crews also pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree felony charge for improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle.
Before sentencing, Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold addressed Crews.
“Driving through Crawford County with a bunch of drugs in your car is not a very good idea, Leuthold said. “It’s going to cost you a half decade in prison. You could be doing up to 11 years in prison had this deal not been worked out between your attorney and the state. If you come back to this county and do this again, I will send you right back to prison. We don’t tolerate drugs in Crawford County.”
Crews also was fined $10,000 and ordered to forfeit all drug-related property to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Crews also forfeited a black Beretta 9mm semi-automatic pistol to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
In other court proceedings, Chet Mullins, 49, of Crestline was due to appear at a hearing in Common Pleas Court, but was represented instead by attorney Adam Stone. Stone explained to the court that Mullins had health issues that prevented him from making it to the hearing in person.
Leuthold agreed to reset the hearing and told Stone he would not accept any further excuses for Mullins’ absence. Mullins faces three fifth-degree felony charges of permitting drug abuse.
Lisa Gardner, 50, of Lexington pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree felony charge for possession of drugs. She appeared in court with attorney Tom Nicholson. She was placed on five years of community control and must forfeit all drug-related property to the Galion Police Department.
Michael Banks, 29 of Bucyrus provoked anger from Leuthold.
Banks turned himself in after violating the terms and conditions of his community control for a second time.
According to probation officer Eric Bohach, Banks stopped reporting for office visits in March and had not paid restitution on his original charges for breaking and entering and theft, both fifth-degree felonies, that occurred in 2014. Banks had been on judicial release.
“What I’d like to do with you is send you back to prison,” Leuthold told Banks. “But I spoke to the victim and he wants his money back. I hate it when someone steals from the elderly. I am so angry with you right now I could spit steel.”
Leuthold noted he decided to delay Banks’ sentencing to give Banks an opportunity to make a substantial payment on the $1,200 owed in restitution.
“I don’t want to see 20 bucks here and there. I want a substantial amount of restitution to be paid,” Leuthold said. “I’m bringing you back in 30 days and you will decide your own fate by what you pay on this debt. You pay the money, or I am going to send you to prison. You’re acting like an irresponsible horse’s ass. By the money you pay, you will convince me to either give you another chance or send you back to prison.”
Laura Hemsoth, 40, of Fort Wayne, Indiana received five years of community control after pleading guilty to one fifth-degree felony charge for possession of drugs.
Hemsoth appeared with attorney Brian Gernert. Hemsoth was ordered to forfeit all drug-related property to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. She also was ordered to undergo drug and alcohol assessments and treatment.