Preble County Common Pleas hears drug, judicial release cases

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EATON — Preble County Common Pleas Court heard cases involving drugs, domestic violence and firearms violations this week. Judge Stephen R. Bruns presided.

Kenneth C. Shindeldecker, 37, of West Alexandria, was granted judicial release. Shindeldecker was sentenced to two years of incarceration on charges of operating a vehicle while under the influence with three or more priors in Feb. 2020.

Defense attorney Kyle Lennen spoke on his client’s behalf.

“Mr. Shindeldecker has a tremendous amount of family support, and they are eager for him to be considered,” Lennen said. “He’s done a decent amount of time, which has been even more stressful because of the current Covid-19 situation.”

Lennen indicated the defendant’s family would be available to assist him with housing, transportation, and other concerns.

Judge Bruns granted Shindeldecker’s request for release and placed him on community control for a period of two years. He also placed the defendant on house arrest for 14 days, citing concerns about the prevalence of Covid-19 in Ohio’s prisons and jails.

“In essence, I’m quarantining you to make sure you don’t introduce the virus into the community,” Bruns said.

Jeffrey Powell, Jr., 26, of West Manchester, was scheduled for sentencing on charges of receiving stolen property, improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, endangering children, and operating a vehicle while under the influence with three or more priors. Additional charges of criminal mischief and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia were dismissed.

Powell failed to appear; his attorney claimed to have had no contact with Powell and asked for a continuance. Judge Bruns declined the request and issued a warrant for Powell’s arrest.

Powell was arrested in June 2019, and was ordered to pursue substance abuse treatment in lieu of conviction the following July. He was initially scheduled for trial in September 2019 after failing to pursue treatment; Powell’s guilty plea was entered into the record after he again failed to pursue court-ordered treatment in February of this year.

Robert L. Clever, Jr., 56, of Dayton, was scheduled for sentencing on charges of violating a protection order. Clever also failed to appear; his attorney, Valerie Sargent-Wood, claimed her client was “virtually homeless” and had been unable to secure transportation to get to court. Judge Bruns granted a continuance in the case, and Clever’s sentencing was rescheduled to June 23.

Jamie Ehrnschwender, 37, of Camden, was scheduled for sentencing for community control violation on underlying charges of aggravated possession of drugs, possession of marijuana and receiving stolen property. Judge Bruns ordered an arrest warrant issued after Ehrnschwender also failed to appear.

Erika D. Gillespie, 39, of Lewisburg, was sentenced on charges of aggravated possession of drugs. An additional charge of illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia was dismissed. Bruns sentenced Gillespie to three years of community control; a reserved prison sentence of 12 months could be imposed if Gillespie fails to complete the terms of her probation.

Nicholas W. Fugate, 40, also of West Alexandria, was ordered to pursue substance abuse treatment in lieu of conviction on charges of improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle. A prison sentence of 18 months could be imposed if Fugate fails to complete the terms of his ILC agreement.

Preble County Common Pleas Court heard cases involving drugs and a request for judicial release this week.
https://www.registerherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2020/06/web1_Courthouse.jpgPreble County Common Pleas Court heard cases involving drugs and a request for judicial release this week.

By Anthony Baker

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Reach Anthony Baker at 937-683-4057 or on Facebook @improperenglish

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