SIDNEY – A former Sidney man was sentenced to 18 months in prison for violating his probation terms on three charges.
Others face potential prison time in cases taken before Judge James Stevenson recently in Shelby County Common Pleas Court.
Bradley Ellis, 24, formerly of Sidney, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) when he violated his probation guidelines. He tested positive for drugs and did not attend required counseling, according to online court records.
The original sentence on charges of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony; possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony; and aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor, was imposed.
He was also placed on five years of community control, ordered to successfully complete counseling for anger and rage, and drug and alcohol abuse, and assessed the court costs. The court also ordered Sidney Police to destroy a firearm confiscated during the arrest.
Court records show on May 22, 2017, Ellis discharged a semi-automatic handgun while operating a motorcycle. He also shot in the air above the head of another person. When arrested he was in possession of heroin and Fentanyl.
Jacob Wade, 19, 607 S. Miami Ave., entered a guilty plea to burglary, a third-degree felony, following plea negotiations during his status conference. He is currently being held on a $10,000 bond at the Shelby County Jail.
Wade faces a maximum of 36 months with the ODRC and a $10,000 fine. Prosecutors agreed to remain silent at the time of sentencing.
According to online court records, Wade and three others entered a home at 843 Meri Lane on May 26 to purposely inflict physical harm on someone.
Devontae Devell Banham, 26, Indianapolis, Indiana, faces a maximum of 42 months with the ODRC and a $10,000 fine when sentenced. During his final pretrial, Banham pleaded guilty to amended charges of failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a fourth-degree felony, and, for attempted improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, and, attempted receiving stolen property, both fifth-degree felonies.
On Aug. 18, Banham was caught fleeing Sidney Police with speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. According to the police report, a loaded revolver was found in the front seat, and had received the car he knew was stolen. He is currently being held at the county jail until sentencing.
Based on mandatory sentencing rules, his driver’s license will be suspended 2 to 5 years.
An Oxford, Ohio, man had a warrant for his arrest issued when he failed to show for status conference. He also failed to appear for a court hearing on Oct. 5.
Thomas Irwin, 37, was subsequently found guilty of a charge of aggravated possession of drugs and possession of criminal tools, both fifth-degree felony. He was found with Methamphetamine when arrested on June 6.
Piqua man no-shows sentencing
In other cases:
• In another defendant no-show, Anthony D. Taylor, 22, Piqua, failed to appear for his sentencing on a charge of attempted aggravated possession of drugs, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Stevenson revoked his $2,500 bond and ordered the bonding company to produce Taylor in court by Dec. 22. Taylor was arrested on May 19 in possession of Methamphetamine.
• Mark A. McWhorter, 41, Springfield, Ohio, agreed to enter a guilty plea to a firearm charge following negotiations with prosecutors during a hearing to suppress evidence.
He pleaded guilty to improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, a first-degree misdemeanor. He was arrested on Feb. 16, 2017, with a handgun in his vehicle. He has a previous aggravated assault conviction in Clark County barring him from having a gun.
McWhorter faces a maximum of 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. The firearm will be destroyed, according to court documents.
• Raymond E. Daniel II, 19, 733 Broadway Ave., was placed on five years community control when sentenced on a charge of trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony. He was also ordered to successfully complete drug and alcohol counseling, fined $300 and assessed court cost. The court also ordered he forfeit the $1,129 in cash confiscated at his arrest used in the process of the crime.
He was arrested May 30 with packaged marijuana.
• Alexander S. Crusey, 23, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of having a weapon while under disability, a third-degree felony, during his final pretrial. When sentenced, he faces a maximum of 36 months in prison and a $10,000 fine. He will also be ordered to make restitution on all counts.
Crusey was charged for taking firearms from various residences between Sept. 1, 2017, through April 19. Records indicate he has a conviction for attempted burglary, a third-degree felony, barring him from having weapons.
• Bayle L. Pennycuff, 27, 13880 Sharp Road, was ordered to be incarcerated at the county jail to await her transfer to a counseling center. She was found guilty of a probation violation on a charge of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.
She must successfully complete the program at the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation Center in Lima to remain eligible for community control.
She was arrested on March 25 in possession of methamphetamines.
