By Kathy Laird
CCN Corespondent
BUCYRUS — Two men were sentenced to prison Monday in Crawford County Common Pleas Court. Several other defendants were arraigned on various indictments.
Zachary Johnson 20 of Bucyrus was sentenced to one year in prison after he pled guilty to violating the conditions of his Community Control. Johnson admitted to refusing to submit to a drug test on Aril 18, 2018. Johnson was originally sentenced to Community Control in 2016 after a conviction on Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor. Judge Sean Leuthold noted that because the defendant was quite young at the time but still old enough to be charged; Community Control was the chosen sentence. Judge Leuthold told Johnson he needed to stope breaking the law because it would only lead to more and more prison time. Johnson told Leuthold; “Probation screwed me.” Leuthold replied; “Probation didn’t screw you; you screwed yourself.”
Joseph Wagner 28, (top photo) of Bucyrus was sentenced to four years in prison after he pled guilty to a violation of his Community Control. Johnson admitted to stealing a bottle of Rich and Rare Liquor from Earhardt’s Party Store in Bucyrus. He also admitted to consuming alcohol and using marijuana. In what Judge Sean Leuthold called a “trying issue”, he noted that Wagner struggles with mental health issues. Leuthold told Wagner; “I understand. Many people struggle with mental health issues; in fact it has almost no stigma attached to it anymore because so many suffer. You cannot self-medicate, it only exacerbates it. I believe if you can stay away from alcohol and drugs you will never get in trouble again; however if you continue in it, I am one hundred percent sure you will be right back here. As I told you before; an $8.95 bottle of liquor is neither rich nor rare.” Noting that he wanted to let Wagner get a taste of prison; it is not the state’s intent to keep him there. Leuthold ordered the Probation Department to get creative with a treatment plan for Wagner. Wagner’s attorney, Adam Stone thanked the Court and the State for working the deal to get Wagner the help he needs. Wagner himself thanked the court for giving him a “wake-up call”.
Chad Hissong, 37 of Galion was arraigned on one count of Theft against an elderly male. Hissong is accused of accepting a total of $11, 770.00 in fees to remodel an elderly man’s kitchen. Prosecutor Matt Crall said at one point the victim tried to get out of the transaction but was unable to stop it. Judge Sean Leuthold entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Hissong and appointed attorney Brian Gernert to represent him. Bond was set at $25,000.00.
Robert Fulker 52, of Galion was indicted on three charges. Fulker is accused of Possession of Marijuana, Illegal Cultivation of Drugs/Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia; a digital scale. Bond was set at $75,000.00. Attorney Tom Nicholson was appointed to represent Fulker.
Phillip Tesso 25 of Crestline was indicted on one count of Aggravated Burglary a felony of the first degree. Tesso is accused of breaking into a residence on Thrush Ave., in Galion. According to Prosecutor Matt Crall; Tesso broke down the door in the residence occupied by his girlfriend. Tesso caused bruising and swelling to his girlfriend after she refused to give him money to purchase drugs. Tesso’s girlfriend is currently 36 weeks pregnant with the defendant’s child. Judge Leuthold set Tesso’s bond at $500,000.00 and appointed attorney Brad Starkey to defend him.
Taylor Bradley-Fisher 24, of Marion was also indicted on a first degree felony of Aggravated Burglary punishable by up to 11 years in prison. Fisher is accused of breaking into a home on Lemert Road in Bucyrus where her former boyfriend resides. Fisher knew the home and entered through a window. Her ex-boyfriend heard a noise and pulled his firearm; but realized just before firing that it was Fisher in the home. Highly intoxicated, Fisher came to the home after trying to call the victim who would not answer his phone. An altercation ensued when Fisher tried to attack the new girlfriend. The victim tried to remove Fisher but two other females entered the residence and according to Prosecutor Matt Crall; “May lay ensued.” The incident occurred in February but it took detectives some time to locate the entire group of persons involved.
Crall noted that Fisher had no prior criminal record and that alcohol played a major role in the incident. Fisher admitted to detectives that she had been at a bar and became upset to learn that the victim had a new girlfriend since their breakup. In what Judge Sean Leuthold said was the “lowest bond ever set in this court”, he had determined that this was a relationship based issue and that Fisher was no threat to others or herself. “What we have here is focused on a relationship; it’s not like the previous case where a guy allegedly beat up his girlfriend because she wouldn’t give him drug money” said Leuthold. Noting that she was lucky she wasn’t shot Leuthold set bond at $50,000.00. He ordered her to have no contact with the victim or consume any alcohol as conditions of her bail if she indeed could make bail. It was also noted for the record that Fisher had recently had foot surgery and was on crutches awaiting follow-up treatment. Attorney Joel Spitzer was appointed to represent her.