BUCYRUS — Karissa Smith of Bucyrus appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Thursday to plead guilty to two counts of drug possession.
Smith, 46, was charged with one count of possession of drugs, a second-degree felony punishable with up to eight years in prison and one count of possession of drugs, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison. Smith was indicted after a drug bust at a residence on E. Warren St. in March.
In a plea agreement, the second-degree felony was amended to a third-degree felony.
Before sentencing, Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold had some words for Smith.
“You’ve been messing with drugs and dealing drugs a long time. The F2 felony, even though it was amended to a third-degree felony dealt with cocaine and the other charge with meth,” Leuthold said. “If you get caught with large amounts of drugs in Crawford County, you’re going to prison for a long time. And that’s what’s about to happen to you.”
Leuthold sentenced Smith to three years in prison for count one and two years for the second count of the indictment, for a total of five years in prison. Smith was ordered to forfeit all drug-related property to the appropriate authorities. Cash in the amount of $238 will be distributed equally among the arresting agencies. She will receive 39 days of jail time credit.
In other court action, Jolena Dunn, 24, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison. Due to a plea agreement, Leuthold sentenced Dunn to five years of community control. She must complete a drug and alcohol assessment, and all follow up treatment. She will forfeit all drug-related property to the Bucyrus Police Department. If Dunn fails to successfully complete community control, she is subject to up to one year in prison.
Jarrod Simpson, 37, of Galion pleaded guilty to one count of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony and one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison.
Before sentencing, Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler said his office had been unable to contact the victim.
Leuthold honored an agreed sentenced recommendation and sentenced Simpson to five years of community control. When asked if he had anything to say, Simpson told the court; “I was trying to stay clean and relapsed for a minute.”
Leuthold told Simpson to stay away from the victim.
“If you relapse for a minute again, you’re going to prison,” Leuthold said.
Simpson was ordered to complete drug and alcohol assessment and treatment as well as anger management treatment.
“Stay away from her. Do you understand that? You’re getting this deal because this was a squabble over drugs, and no one was seriously hurt. That will conclude the matter,” Leuthold said.