By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
Justice in Crawford County isn’t simply swift, it’s moving at warp speed for those picked up on drug-related crimes. Two of four people arrested during an April 1 drug sting in Bucyrus pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison on Tuesday in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.
Thirty-six-year-old Leeann Dalton of Bucyrus admitted to violating probation and a bill of information charging her with fifth-degree felony drug possession. Dalton, who was on probation for felony drug possession, was sentenced to 12-month terms each on the probation violation and new charge. Dalton was ordered to serve those terms consecutively for a total of 24 months.
Dalton will receive credit for time served on the sentence for violating probation, but she was also fined $1,250 and had her driver’s license suspended for six months on the new charge. Dalton’s probation violations as stated by APA Officer Mark Alspach were refusing a drug test and admitting to using heroin.
Thirty-one-year-old Adam Chapman of Galion was arrested at the scene at East Center Street on April 1, but only charged with violating probation for refusing a drug test. Chapman admitted to smoking pot and chose to forgo a formal probation violation hearing.
Chapman said he was only at the East Center Street house at the time of the drug sting because he happened to be picking up his mail since he used to live there. Chapman insisted he didn’t use heroin when questioned by Judge Sean Leuthold, even though he was placed on probation this past January after a conviction for drug possession involving heroin.
The judge sentenced Chapman to eight months in prison at the recommendation of Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler.
The other two people arrested in that drug sting were Michael Bloomfield and Jonathan Bloomfield. Those cases are pending.
Twenty-seven-year-old Ashley Singer appeared in court for an initial hearing on charges she violated terms of her intervention in lieu of conviction program. Singer went into the program one year ago after pleading to charge of heroin possession.
APA Officer Alspach alleged Singer with using or being in possession of prescription medication, being charged with driving without a license, admitting to using heroin and being unsuccessfully discharged from a treatment program.
Leuthold appointed Brian Gernert to represent Singer and set bond at $100,000.
Singer, if found to have violated the rules of the intervention program, could be convicted of the original felony since she has already pleaded guilty to that charge.