BUCYRUS — A Canton man was sentenced to prison Thursday in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.
Ricky Welsch, 43, of Canton — represented by attorney Brad Starkey — admitted to committing the burglary of the Pritchard Insurance office in Bucyrus.
Welsch was sentenced to eight months in prison on count one of burglary, a fifth-degree and seven months on one count of possession of criminal tools, also a fifth-degree felony, for a total of 15 months in prison. Welsch was also ordered to pay $600 in restitution to the Pritchard Insurance Agency.
Judge Sean Leuthold had some stern words for Welsch.
“Stay the hell out of other people’s property,” Leuthold said. “If you keep doing this then I’m going to keep sending you to prison.”
In other court news, Mindy Wells, 38, of Bucyrus will spend the next 12 months in prison. Wells pleaded guilty to one count of receiving stolen property, a fifth-degree felony.
Leuthold said he would not object to an early release for Wells in order to put her into a treatment program. Upon that release, Wells would be placed on five years of community control.
When asked if she had anything to say before sentencing, Wells told the court: “I am going to take this opportunity whole-heartedly.”
Leuthold told her he hoped she would.
Samuel Benedict, 44, of Bucyrus was placed on five years of community control after he pleaded guilty to domestic violence, a third-degree felony, punishable with up to 36 months in prison.
Leuthold ordered Benedict into counseling, including anger management. Wells was ordered to have no contact with the victim.
“Keep your damn hands off any woman and if you don’t, I will send you to prison,” Leuthold said.
Chad Bucklew, 37, of Crestline pleaded guilty to one count of theft, a fourth-degree felony, punishable by up to 12 months in prison. A second charge of theft was dismissed.
Bucklew will serve five years on community control under basic supervision. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim. He was also ordered to pay $7,295 in restitution.
Frankie Phipps, 35, of Galion was arraigned on a charge of burglary, a second-degree felony, punishable with up to eight years in prison.
Phipps is accused of breaking into an occupied home on Church St. in Galion. Leuthold entered Phipps’ plea of not guilty and appointed attorney Grand Garverick to represent him.
Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler asked for a $150,000 bond on Phipps. He noted that Phipps had served time in prison previously for burglary and had convictions dating back to 2015. Leuthold agreed and set the bond as requested by Hoovler.