EATON — Preble County Common Pleas Court heard cases involving drugs, theft and violating a protection order on Tuesday, April 13. Judge Stephen R. Bruns presided.
Elizabeth M. Hobbs, 35, of West Alexandria, was sentenced on charges of aggravated possession of drugs. Additional charges of making false alarms, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with three or more priors, misconduct at an emergency scene, and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia were dismissed.
Hobbs pleaded guilty and was ordered to pursue substance abuse treatment in lieu of conviction in May 2020. She was taken off ILC, and her guilty plea entered into the record, the following September.
According to court records, Hobbs called the Preble County Sheriff’s Office in April 2020 and claimed her son had been assaulted; it was later determined that no such assault had taken place. Hobbs allegedly told Sheriff’s deputies that she had “received messages through her brain waves” telling her that her son was in trouble.
Four grams of meth were found in Hobbs’ vehicle; her previous record includes charges of criminal damaging and endangering, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and theft in Montgomery County.
Judge Bruns sentenced Hobbs to five years of community control. Hobbs was also ordered to continue substance abuse treatment and perform 20 hours of community service.
Also in court Tuesday:
David A. Daniels, 42, of West Alexandria, pleaded guilty to violating a protection order. Daniels’ previous record includes charges of domestic violence and numerous other counts dating back to 1997. According to court documents, Daniels was arrested in Jan. 2017 after assaulting a 13-year-old male family member.
Daniels was sentenced to two years of incarceration by former Preble County Common Pleas Court Judge David Abruzzo in that case. The defendant previously pleaded guilty to violating a protection order in Aug. 2019. He was sentenced to six months of incarceration on that charge.
Daniels’ next court appearance is a final disposition hearing, to be held April 27.
Helen A. Stewart, 47, of Hamilton, was sentenced on charges of aggravated possession of drugs. According to court documents, Stewart was arrested on an outstanding warrant in 2018, at which time baggies of meth and heroin were found on her person.
Stewart was sentenced to 12 months of incarceration on those charges and 36 months on additional charges of robbery and possession of heroin in May 2018. She was granted judicial release in April 2020.
Stewart turned herself in on charges of probation violation in January. She admitted the allegations and was ordered to remain on community control during Tuesday’s hearing.
Travis R. Hodapp, 40, was scheduled to appear for sentencing on charges of trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs and possession of drug abuse instruments. Hodapp pleaded guilty to the charges in Nov. 2020.
According to a sentencing memorandum filed by Preble County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Gractia Manning, Hodapp was arrested in July 2020 after meeting another man in the parking lot of Camden Primary School for the purpose of selling pills. Hodapp also allegedly intended to use money received from this third party to travel to Dayton and buy heroin.
Hodapp failed to appear for Tuesday’s hearing; his defense attorney informed the court that he is currently enrolled in substance abuse treatment. Judge Bruns granted the attorney’s request for a continuance in the case; Hodapp’s next court appearance has not yet been scheduled.
Shea Andrew Salyers, 19, of Eaton, was sentenced on charges of burglary, theft, and criminal damaging or endangering. Salyers’ previous record includes additional charges of theft and breaking and entering.
According to a sentencing memorandum filed by Manning, Salyers broke into his parents’ home in Aug. 2020. Salyers later admitted selling an airsoft gun he took from the residence. Manning recommended community control and court-mandated substance abuse treatment in the case.
Bruns sentenced Salyers to five years of community control. Salyers was ordered to serve 180 days in the Preble County Jail, with credit for 152 days already served; to pay court costs and attorney fees; obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation; and perform 20 hours of community service.
