By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
A Bucyrus man’s actions while serving time in the Crawford County jail for a misdemeanor will see him exchanging one room behind bars for another.
Twenty-four-year-old Gage Ruth pleaded guilty to intimidation, a third-degree felony, and received a 24-month prison sentence in Crawford County Common Pleas Court Thursday morning. A charge of felonious assault was dismissed in exchange for Ruth’s guilty plea. He must also pay a $1,000 fine and will be subject to three years on mandatory post-release control.
“You seem to take lemonade and make it into lemons,” said Judge Sean Leuthold, taking a popular phrase and turning it on its head.
Ruth had been serving 180 days in the county jail for vehicular manslaughter when the latest incident occurred. He pleaded guilty to the first-degree misdemeanor charge in November of 2016.
Ruth also spent six months in prison in 2014 after violating his community control. He originally pleaded guilty to improperly handling a firearm in that case.
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Forty-seven-year-old Karin Assenheimer, of rural Bucyrus, pleaded guilty on two counts of deception to obtain dangerous drugs, though the charges came as second- and third-degree felonies.
Leuthold ordered a pre-sentence investigation and warned Assenheimer, who was released on a personal recognizance bond when she was arraigned, against failing to show up for her sentencing hearing. The court agreed to hold off on sentencing her at her change of plea hearing due to a medical condition with one of Assenheimer’s family members who she is helping to care for. It was noted, however, that Assenheimer had been involved in various treatment programs since her arraignment.
“I appreciate that, Your Honor,” Assenheimer said.
“You have a lot to lose,” said Leuthold, referring to the maximum, combined 11-year prison sentence she could face.
If Leuthold follows the agreed sentence, Assenheimer could be facing 48 months in prison on the second-degree felony and nine months for the third-degree felony. She will also pay a $7,500 fine.
Three people appeared in court for initial hearings on community control violations and all three left with $100,000 bonds set.
Allegations were brought against 35-year-old Shara Skaggs, of Galion, for using heroin and missing three mandatory drug testing appointments at Maryhaven as ordered by her supervising officer. Leuthold appointed Sebastian Berger as Skaggs’ attorney.
Skaggs was placed on the court’s Intensive Supervision and Treatment program in March 2016 after pleading guilty to drug possession.
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Twenty-one-year-old Tashshawn Jones, of Bucyrus, allegedly committed aggravated burglary at a Bucyrus residence and had his urinalysis test positive for alcohol. Leuthold appointed Geoffrey Stoll as Jones’ attorney.
Jones originally pleaded guilty to drug possession in 2015 and was placed on community control.
Thirty-six-year-old Tabitha Roberts, of Cardington, was granted driving privileges in 2015, but those privileges seemed to have led her into trouble. Roberts was allegedly found guilty of possessing dangerous drugs and driving under suspension in Crawford County Municipal Court and, while in Morrow County, operated a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, operated a vehicle under suspension, failed to inform her supervising officer of her arrest, and consumed alcohol. Leuthold appointed Brian Gernert as her attorney.
Roberts had been on probation since 2015 after pleading guilty on two counts of drug possession on a 2015 case and one count of possession on a 2013 case.
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