BUCYRUS — Heidi Arms of Crestline appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday to plead guilty to one count of possession of drugs, a second-degree felony punishable with up to eight years in prison and one count of permitting drug abuse, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison.

Arms’ guilty plea falls under the sentencing guidelines of the new Reagan Tokes law. Tokes, an Ohio State University student, was raped and brutally murdered in 2017 after she was abducted while leaving her job. Her assailant was a repeat offender.

The Reagan Tokes Act was introduced to the Ohio House and Senate in 2018 and addresses the sentencing and monitoring of serious offenders. Part of the act dealing with sentencing was signed into law by Governor John Kasich in 2018. The parts of the act addressing the monitoring of felons were re-introduced in 2019.

Arms, 40, is considered to fall under the guidelines of the Reagan Tokes Act. As a result, the Ohio Department of Corrections has the authority to add to Arms’ sentence by as much as half for egregious behavior while in prison or reduce her sentenced by 5-15 percent for good behavior.

In a plea negotiation, Arms was sentenced to four years in prison for the second-degree felony and 11 months in prison for the fifth-degree felony.

Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold went along with the plea negotiation and explained to Arms that she could end up serving as much as six years in prison even though he sentenced her to four years. He also explained that her sentence could be reduced for exceptional conduct.

When asked if she had anything to say, Arms had her court-appointed attorney, Brad Starkey, speak on her behalf. Starkey explained to the court that Arms’ family were present in the court room and that it had been difficult on her family.

“Ms. Arms knows that no apology will suffice,” Starkey said. “My client will successfully show that she takes her rehabilitation seriously and wants to put this behind her.”

“I did this to myself,” Arms said.

Leuthold noted that he did not believe Arms was the mastermind in the situation.

“The other men were arrested in Ottawa County. Ms. Arms got involved with them because she was using drugs,” Leuthold said. “They took the money and she got left holding the bag. She took all the risk and now she’s going to prison.”

Leuthold sentenced Arms to four years and 11 months in prison.

“The bad news is that you did a lot of bad stuff. Don’t deal drugs in Crawford County,” Leuthold said. “The good news is you can fix it. I do believe you were an addict that was used. We don’t tolerate putting kids in harm’s way and your children were present in the house when this stuff was going on.”

Arms will forfeit all drug-related property to the Crawford County Sheriff along with $332.25 in cash. She will receive 132 days of jail time credit.

In other court action, Darel Owens, 53, of Galion pleaded guilty to one count of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony punishable with up to 60 months in prison. Leuthold sentenced Owens to 54 months in prison.

Owens will have to register as a Tier II Sex Offender for the next 25 years. He will be required to report in person to the sheriff of the county in which he resides in person every 180 days.

“We take the safety of our children very seriously in Crawford County,” Leuthold said. “If you are released from prison and fail to register as a Tier II sex offender, there will be another charge and I will send you right back to prison.”

Owens was ordered to have no direct or indirect contact with the victim. He will receive 58 days of jail time credit.