EATON — Preble County Common Pleas Court heard cases involving drugs, forgery, and harassment with a bodily substance this week. Judge Stephen R. Bruns presided.
Amanda Tackett, 37, of Eaton, was sentenced on charges of receiving stolen property and forgery. According to a sentencing memorandum filed by Preble County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Gractia Manning, Tackett – whose record also includes theft, assault, drug and burglary charges – cashed a stolen insurance check which had been fraudulently made out in her name in October of last year.
Tackett spoke in her own defense before sentence was pronounced.
“I made a decision back in October to get clean, and I’ve been clean since then,” Tackett said. “I’ve been here before, but I didn’t take it seriously back then. It’s different this time.”
Judge Bruns had strong words for the defendant, whom he’d previously given early release on a similar charge.
“One of the biggest disappointments I’ve had in this job was granting you judicial release and having you violate almost before I was able to take a seat in my office,” Bruns said. “You’re on as thin of ice as you can be on.”
Bruns wished Tackett luck before sentencing her to three years of community control and ordering her to perform 100 hours of community service.
“I hope your desire for a better life is more of a motivator than fear of punishment, but that’s what the criminal justice system has to offer,” Bruns said. “The choice is what we’re doing here or prison. There’s no in-between.”
Also in court this week:
Christina M. Maynard, 39, of Eaton, pled guilty to three counts of harassment with a bodily substance and one of assault. According to court documents, Maynard caused three individuals “to come into contact with blood, semen, urine, feces, or another substance” by throwing it at them, expelling it upon them, “or in any other manner” in Sept. 2020.
Court records indicate that Maynard committed the offense “with the intent to harass, annoy, threaten or alarm” the alleged victims in the case, and with the knowledge that she was infected with a serious illness.
The charges carry combined penalties of up to 10 years of incarceration. Judge Bruns ordered a pre-sentencing investigation to be conducted in the case; Maynard’s next court appearance is a final disposition hearing, to be held April 28.
John M. Newton, 23, of Camden, was sentenced to diversion on charges of improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia. Newton’s guilty plea to the charges will be held in abeyance, and his record expunged, if he successfully completes the diversion program.
“If you follow the terms, which include community service and staying out of trouble, you’ll be able to turn back the clock to before you committed this offense, and avoid everything that would normally come along with that,” Bruns said.
Jordan N. Redmond, 33, of Lewisburg, was ordered to pursue substance abuse treatment in lieu of conviction on charges of aggravated possession of drugs. If Redmond successfully completes the terms of his ILC agreement, according to Bruns, he’ll be able to avoid having a felony on his record.
“I’m never sure if this is helpful, but I repeat it to everyone in your situation,” Bruns said. “A felony conviction could reduce your lifetime earnings by half, so there’s a lot at stake for you here.”
