Ashland County Common Pleas Court issues prison, community-control sentences in July
Fifteen defendants were sentenced in 16 criminal cases, while two others entered intervention-in-lieu-of-conviction programs
ASHLAND — Ashland County Court of Common Pleas Judge David R. Stimpert, imposed sentences in 16 criminal cases during July, including lengthy prison terms for involuntary manslaughter and aggravated burglary.
Court records show 15 defendants were sentenced during the month. Two additional defendants were admitted into intervention-in-lieu-of-conviction programs.
Preece sentenced for involuntary manslaughter
Tara Preece, 37, of Ashland, was sentenced July 27 after being convicted of first-degree felony involuntary manslaughter, fifth-degree felony trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound and fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs.
Preece received an indefinite prison sentence of 10 to 15 years for involuntary manslaughter. The fentanyl-trafficking offense merged with the manslaughter charge for sentencing, while the aggravated-possession conviction resulted in an additional 12-month prison sentence.
Several other charges were dismissed upon a motion by the state, including another involuntary-manslaughter count, corrupting another with drugs, possession of a fentanyl-related compound, permitting drug abuse and possession of drugs.
Preece received credit for two days already served and will be subject to a mandatory post-release-control period of between two and five years.
Bonham receives six- to nine-year prison term
Fontel Bonham, 36, of Mansfield, was sentenced July 27 on convictions for strangulation, aggravated burglary and extortion.
Bonham received 12 months for strangulation, an indefinite prison sentence of six to nine years for aggravated burglary and 36 months for extortion. The court ordered the terms to be served concurrently.
Charges dismissed upon a motion by the state included robbery, a second aggravated-burglary count, extortion, aggravated menacing and intimidation.
Bonham will be subject to mandatory post-release control of between two and five years.
Pounds sentenced in two OVI cases
Benjamin Pounds, 39, of Ashland, was sentenced July 24 in two separate felony operating-a-vehicle-under-the-influence cases.
In case 25-CRI-138, Pounds received 12 months in prison for third-degree felony OVI. He was credited with 115 days already served, fined $1,540 plus court costs and received a five-year driver’s license suspension.
In case 26-CRI-058, Pounds received another 12-month prison sentence for fourth-degree felony OVI. That sentence will be served consecutively to the sentence imposed in the first case, resulting in a total stated prison term of 24 months. He was also fined $1,540 plus costs and received another five-year license suspension.
Additional prison sentences
Several other defendants received prison sentences during July:
Isaiah Vasquez, 29, of Mansfield, received 12 months in prison for third-degree felony aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine. He received credit for 319 days already served.
Tiffany Salsgiver, 32, of Maple Heights, was sentenced following a community-control violation. She received nine months in prison for cocaine possession, along with jail sentences of 180 days for drug possession and 90 days for resisting arrest. The terms are concurrent by law, and she received credit for 241 days served.
Thomas Jacobs, 35, of Powell, received six months in prison for possession of a fentanyl-related compound. He received three days of jail-time credit.
Bobby Sallee, 43, of Burbank, received 12 months in prison for fourth-degree felony grand theft of a motor vehicle. He received credit for 69 days served. Breaking and entering and receiving stolen property charges were dismissed upon a motion by the state.
Defendants placed on community control
Other defendants received community-control sanctions, jail sentences and treatment requirements:
Jay Kern, 44, of Ashland, was placed on community control for two years for fifth-degree felony possession of LSD. He received credit for five days served, was ordered to complete a substance-abuse treatment program and was fined $500 plus costs. A third-degree felony illegal-conveyance charge was dismissed. A prison term of six to 12 months was reserved if he violates community control.
Dyllon Partin, 20, of Elyria, received two years of community control and 60 days in jail for fourth-degree felony failure to comply and misdemeanor OVI. He received four days of jail-time credit and was ordered to pay $565 plus costs. A second OVI charge was dismissed.
Jeremy Steinbrunner, 42, of Polk, received one year of community control for misdemeanor domestic violence and criminal damaging. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 90 days suspended, on the domestic-violence charge and 90 days for criminal damaging. He received credit for 82 days served and was fined $250 plus costs.
Brittny Walker, 31, of Mansfield, received two years of community control and 90 days in jail for two counts of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine. She was ordered to participate in a mental-health program and fined $5,000 plus costs on each count. The court reserved possible prison terms of nine to 36 months on each count if community control is violated.
Mason Fraley, 24, of Perrysville, received two years of community control and 120 days in jail for fourth-degree felony trespass. He received 105 days of jail-time credit and was ordered to participate in mental-health and substance-abuse programming. He was fined $250 plus costs, and a charge of abusing harmful intoxicants was dismissed.
Palar Gray, 24, of Mansfield, received two years of community control and 30 days in jail for fourth-degree felony failure to comply. Gray received five days of jail-time credit, a three-year driver’s license suspension and a $250 fine plus costs. Obstructing and inducing-panic charges were dismissed. A six- to 18-month prison term was reserved.
Jessica South, 46, of Westlake, received two years of community control for aggravated possession of methamphetamine and tampering with evidence. She was ordered to enter substance-abuse treatment, fined $250 plus costs and credited with three days served. The court reserved potential prison terms of six to 12 months and nine to 36 months.
Cameron Kosunick, 24, of Ashland, received two years of community control and 90 days in jail for fourth-degree felony domestic violence. He received credit for all 90 days and was ordered to participate in mental-health treatment. Kosunick was fined $250 plus costs, and a criminal-damaging charge was dismissed. A six- to 18-month prison term was reserved.
Two defendants enter intervention programs
Two defendants were admitted into intervention-in-lieu-of-conviction programs during July:
Cory Leaver, 36, of West Salem, entered the program July 6 on a fifth-degree felony charge of aggravated possession of methamphetamine. His plan includes two years of supervision, substance-abuse treatment, maintaining sobriety and payment of court costs. He received credit for seven days served.
Alexander Korotkin, 19, of Delaware, entered the program July 27 on a fifth-degree felony charge of aggravated possession of psilocin. His plan includes two years of supervision, substance-abuse treatment, maintaining sobriety and payment of court costs. He received credit for three days served.
Community control is supervised by the court and may include treatment, reporting requirements and other conditions. Defendants who violate those conditions may face additional sanctions, including reserved prison terms.
