By Kathy Laird
A Crestline man was sentenced to prison on Wednesday in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.
David Burger III, 26, was sentenced to 19 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of domestic violence and violating the conditions of his community control.
According to his probation officer Eric Bohach, he received a tip that Burger had been using drugs and had beaten his pregnant girlfriend. On Aug. 22, Burger tested positive for amphetamines and marijuana.
Pictures of the injuries inflicted by Burger on his pregnant girlfriend were submitted to the court. Judge Sean Leuthold noted that although the injuries were not life-threatening, getting high and beating up a pregnant woman would not be tolerated.
In a plea agreement with prosecutors, Burger will serve 10 months in prison on the domestic violence charge and nine months on the community control violation for a total of 19 months.
“You should be vastly ashamed of yourself, Mr. Burger. Get your act together and take care of your kid,” said Leuthold.
Burger will receive credit for time served and forfeit all drug-related property to the Crestline Police Department.
Another Crestline man is also heading to prison after pleading guilty to a drug charge.
Steven Lowe, 39, Crestline, was sentenced to nine months in prison after he changed his plea on one count of trafficking in drugs.
Lowe admitted to selling the drug Suboxone and Leuthold reminded him of how unwise it is to sell drugs in Crawford County.
Noting the number of defendants that he has sent to prison on similar charges, Leuthold said to Lowe, “Guys like you just keep banging your head up against a brick wall. You don’t seem to realize that the brick wall always wins. In Crawford County, I am the brick wall.”
Lowe will receive credit for time served.
Heather Grasley, 30, of Bucyrus, appeared with her court-appointed attorney, Brad Starkey to ask the court for a new attorney. Starkey had also filed a motion on behalf of Grasley for a furlough regarding her trial date.
Grasley is currently eight months pregnant with a due date in November. Starkey noted to the court that she has a history of delivering her babies 2-3 weeks early. Leuthold said he would take the furlough under consideration.
Grasley wrote a letter to the court requesting a new attorney. She advised the court that she felt there was a conflict of interest since Starkey’s partner, Geoffrey Jeff Stoll, had represented parties regarding custody of her children.
“Mr. Starkey is a fine lawyer and I don’t believe that this would impact his ability to defend you at all,” said Leuthold.
Grasley faces more than ten years in prison and with that in mind, Leuthold decided to grant her request to appoint Carlos Crawford as her new attorney. Grasley faces charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a second-degree felony, along with five other charges.