by Logan Andrew | FreeWire Magazine — Your News, Your Voice
Bucyrus Municipal Court handled another full week of cases, highlighted by OVI convictions, domestic violence pleas, disorderly conduct, drug paraphernalia, and driving violations. While jail terms were often suspended, most defendants remain under strict probation and treatment conditions.
OVI & Driving Offenses
- Harry L. Appelfeller III, 34, Bucyrus — pleaded guilty to OVI under the influence. He was fined $565 and sentenced to 180 days in jail with 177 suspended, plus a one-year license suspension. He must complete an alcohol/drug program. A stop-sign violation was dismissed.
- Travis J. Baker, 43, Bucyrus — pleaded guilty to OVI under the influence. He was fined $1,075 with $510 suspended and sentenced to 180 days in jail. He was granted limited driving privileges and ordered to complete a drug/alcohol assessment. A traffic-lane violation was dismissed.
- Spencer L. Taul, 30, Galion — pleaded guilty to driving without a valid license. He was fined $50 plus costs. A fictitious-plate charge was dismissed.
- Douglas E. Rowlinson, 47, Bucyrus — pleaded guilty to OVI under the influence. He was fined $565 and sentenced to 180 days in jail with all time suspended, plus a six-month license suspension. A refusal OVI charge was dismissed.
- Suzanne R. Trotman, 51, Tiro — pleaded guilty to OVI under the influence. She was fined $715 and sentenced to 180 days in jail with 170 suspended, plus a one-year license suspension. She must complete an alcohol/drug assessment. A high-test OVI charge was dismissed.
- John Vanderkooi, 67, Galion — pleaded guilty to physical control. He was fined $375 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, all suspended. Vanderkooi must complete a certified drug/alcohol program and remain drug- and alcohol-free. Related charges for driving under suspension and OVI refusal were dismissed.
Assault & Domestic Violence
- Chaz A. Smith, 34, Crestline — pleaded guilty to domestic violence. He was fined $321 and sentenced to 180 days in jail to run concurrent with a related felony case.
Disorderly Conduct & Trespass
- Phyllis J. Berning, 61, Bucyrus — pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. She was fined $250 and sentenced to 30 days in jail with 27 suspended. She must remain drug- and alcohol-free and is subject to random testing and searches.
Drug Offenses
- Travis J. Baker, 43, Bucyrus — pleaded guilty in two separate cases to possession of drug paraphernalia. He was fined $250 in each case and sentenced to 30 days in jail with credit for time served. One case included a mandatory drug/alcohol assessment.
- Bryan R. Hathaway, 40, Bucyrus — pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia. He was fined $250 and sentenced to 30 days in jail with 30 suspended. He must complete an alcohol/drug assessment and remain drug- and alcohol-free.
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No felony cases were bound over to the Crawford County Common Pleas Court this week.
Conclusion
This week’s Municipal Court docket was dominated by OVI convictions and driving violations, with several drug paraphernalia cases and a domestic violence plea also resolved. While most jail terms were suspended, the court ordered strict compliance with treatment, probation, and no-alcohol conditions.
