EATON — Preble County Common Pleas Court heard drug cases on Monday afternoon, Oct. 14. Judge Stephen R. Bruns presided.
Amanda Tackett, 35, of Eaton, faced allegations of violating the terms of her judicial release. Tackett was released in September after serving approximately four months of a twelve-month prison term. Tackett pleaded guilty to charges of receiving stolen property and aggravated possession of drugs in April 2019.
Tackett was ordered to pursue substance abuse treatment upon release, but failed to do so, according to her parole officer. Tackett also allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine, fentanyl, and THC.
Tackett addressed the court about how drugs and incarceration had affected her life.
“Prison isn’t doing anything for me. I just want help,” Tackett said. “I want to be sober and live a happy life. I want to be that person that my kids are proud to talk to again.”
Tackett’s parole officer was unimpressed, however.
“I feel personally that Miss Tackett has had every chance,” she said. “She’s not doing anything or following through with anything, and she comes in here with tears in her eyes every time.”
Judge Bruns ultimately ordered Tackett to be returned to prison to complete the remainder of her sentence.
“Words are cheap, Miss Tackett,” Bruns said.
Ace Gulley, 41, of Eaton, was sentenced on charges of aggravated trafficking in drugs. Gulley was taken into custody in August after failing to appear for a change of plea hearing. He was initially arrested at the end of June after allegedly selling two grams of methamphetamine to an undercover police officer.
Gulley’s attorney, Sam Borst, requested that his client be sent back to Sojourner Recovery Services in Warren County for substance abuse treatment, saying he’d been making progress before being picked up by police for failing to appear.
“They’ve been working with him on his anger and his mental health issues,” Borst said.
Gulley spoke in his own defense before sentence was handed down.
“My whole life has revolved around drugs and money,” Gulley said. “Now for the first time I’ve found something I love more than drugs and money, and I’m willing to fight for it if I have to.”
Gulley said his time at Sojourner had taught him the difference between a mistake and a choice.
“A mistake is accidental,” Gulley said. “But I made a choice to keep making a series of mistakes.”
Judge Bruns took issue with Gulley’s claims of having made progress while at Sojourner, however, saying Gulley had actually been discharged from the program as a result of behavioral issues, including throwing things and damaging facility property, resulting in him being removed from the facility and taken into custody at their request.
Bruns sentenced Gulley to 18 months incarceration, with the possibility of judicial release if his behavior improves.
“You’ve got a chance to show me that you’re serious about what you were talking about earlier,” Bruns said. “If you’re serious about treatment, that can happen.”
