Sentence announced in August in Richland County Common Pleas Court

MANSFIELD – The following criminal court cases were resolved in Richland County Common Pleas Court in August.

The list includes all cases for which Richland Spring has published stories in prosecution that were first published here in February.

Sentencing and other orders in August

— Richard Wells, 37, was sentenced to six to nine years in prison for aggravated assault. The sentence was originally entered on Sept. 28, 2023. Wells also received a mandatory post-trial term of 18 months to three years and was given credit for 174 days in jail for time already served with the Richland County Sheriff's Office.

— Tre'shawn Banks, 22, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for possessing weapons while under disability, with a forfeiture period included in the sentence. The charge was originally scheduled to be filed on December 21, 2023. Banks must surrender his firearm to the State of Ohio and will be subject to control for up to two years upon release. Banks was given 11 days in jail credit for time he had already served with the RCSO.

— Todd Rox, 53, was sentenced to 180 days in the Richland County Jail for a charge of aggravated possession of drugs. The charge was originally filed on April 9, 2021, and was amended from a fifth-degree felony to a first-degree misdemeanor. Rox must report to the Richland County Jail at 9 a.m. on November 1, unless fines and costs are paid. He was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and $40 to the Mansfield Police Department Crime Lab. Rox was given one day of jail credit for time already served at the RCSO.

— Cody Zeger, 37, was sentenced to three years of community control for aggravated possession of drugs originally charged on January 12, 2024. Zeger was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and $40 to the MPD crime lab. He must serve up to two years of community control upon release.

— Ashlee West, 37, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for a charge of illegally transporting drugs onto the grounds of a certain state facility on February 22, 2024. A charge of aggravated possession of drugs was dismissed. West received 23 days in jail credit for time already served at the RCSO and was ordered to pay $80 to the MPD crime lab. She must be under supervision for up to two years upon release.

In another case, West was sentenced to three years of community service for aggravated drug possession. A charge of obstruction of official business was dismissed. Both charges were originally filed on March 21, 2024. West must complete her community service control in Re-Entry Court upon her release from prison. In that case, she was ordered to pay $40 to the MPD crime lab and will be subject to up to two years of community service control upon her release.

— Seth Walter Hinton, 25, was sentenced to three years of community probation on two charges originally filed on Jan. 12, 2024. Hinton was charged with illegal transportation of drugs onto the grounds of a certain state facility and aggravated possession of drugs. A charge of possession of a fentanyl-containing compound was dismissed. He must serve up to two years of community probation after his release.

In another case, Hinton was sentenced to three years of community probation for aggravated drug possession. The charge was originally filed on April 5, 2024. He faces up to two years of probation upon release.

— Kathy Swartz, 65, was sentenced to pay a $500 fine and court and supervision costs to the Richland County Probation Department. The charge originally dated Nov. 13, 2023, was for aggravated possession of drugs. An additional charge of aggravated possession of drugs was dismissed.

— Kenneth Harris, 21, received three concurrent 12-month prison sentences, all to run consecutively with a one-year weapons sentence, for three counts: improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle, possession of cocaine and aggravated drug possession. Harris was also charged with one weapons sentence and two weapons sentences. Four counts were dropped against him: trafficking cocaine, aggravated drug trafficking and two weapons sentences. All of the charges were originally filed on March 6, 2024. Harris must surrender his firearm to the State of Ohio and receive 58 days of jail credit for time already served with the RCSO. He is subject to up to two years of post-release supervision.

— Cholean Mullins, 32, was sentenced to three years of community probation for three counts of trafficking cocaine, with probation to transfer to her home state and county. Three charges of possession of cocaine were dismissed. All charges were originally filed on January 25, 2024. Mullins was ordered to pay a $350 fine and $120 to the MPD crime lab. She will be on probation for up to two years upon release.

— Bradley Lablanc, 39, was sentenced to two years of community control and probation transfer to his home county and the State of Mississippi on four counts; improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, concealed carrying of a weapon and two forfeiture conditions. Two counts against Lablanc were dropped; operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and driving left of center. All charges were originally filed on April 19, 2018. He must surrender his firearm to the State of Ohio and will be subject to up to two years of control upon release.

— Kerria Shears, 56, pleaded guilty to four counts: theft (two counts), identity fraud and credit card misuse, each filed on November 5, 2021. Shears was placed in the prosecutor's diversion program and her case will remain closed pending successful completion of the program. Shears must also pay $7,064.55 in restitution to the victim in the case.

— Jayme Mitchell, 35, was sentenced to 30 months of community probation for possession of a compound containing fentanyl. The charge was originally filed on Jan. 12, 2024. Mitchell must pay $35 to the Ohio State Highway Patrol Crime Lab and will be subject to up to two years of probation upon release.

— Johnny Stephens, 42, was sentenced to 30 months of community confinement for possession of a fentanyl-containing compound. An additional charge of possession of a fentanyl-containing compound was dismissed. Both charges were originally scheduled to be filed on April 5, 2024. Stephens must pay a $250 fine, 80 percent of which will go to the RCSO and 20 percent to the Richland County District Attorney's Office. He must remain under supervision for up to two years after his release.

— Daniel Drake, 52, received a 180-day suspended sentence for aggravated possession of drugs, which was converted to first-degree aggravated possession of drugs. Drake's charge was originally scheduled for April 5, 2024. He was also fined $1,000.

— Marie Carroll, 45, was sentenced to three years of community probation for aggravated drug possession originally charged on April 18, 2024. Carroll will be subject to up to two years of probation upon her release and must pay $40 to the MPD crime lab.

— Patricia Hummel, 58, pleaded no contest to a charge of cocaine possession originally filed on April 18, 2024. Hummel was placed in the Drug Court Diversion Program, which she will begin on September 12.

— Calvin Ennon, 50, was sentenced to four years of community control for aggravated possession of drugs. The charge was originally filed on April 18, 2024. Ennon will be subject to up to two years of community control upon release and must pay $40 to the MPD crime lab.

— Steven Cole, 39, was sentenced to 30 months probation on two counts: aggravated drug possession and credit card misuse. Both sentences were entered on May 10, 2024. Cole will be subject to up to two years of probation after his release.

— Cody Burgy, 54, received a 180-day suspended sentence for domestic violence, which was amended to a charge of first-degree domestic violence. Burgy's original charge was entered on May 10, 2024. He was also fined $1,000.

— Clarence Putney, 40, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for aggravated possession of drugs. The charge was originally filed on May 24, 2024. Putney received 116 days in jail credit for time already served at the RCSO and was found indigent on the mandatory fine. Putney must pay $80 to the MPD crime lab and is subject to up to two years of post-release supervision.

— Michael Havens, 34, was sentenced to three years of community probation on two counts: tampering with evidence and aggravated possession of drugs, both counts entered on May 24, 2024. Havens was ordered to pay $40 to the MPD crime lab and must serve up to two years of probation upon his release.

— Nicholas Tess, 35, was sentenced to four to six years in prison for aggravated assault, which followed a four-year sentence for another aggravated assault. Tess was also sentenced to 60 days in the Richland County Jail, concurrent with his other two sentences, for resisting arrest. Three charges against Tess were dismissed: attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault. All charges were originally scheduled to be filed on May 24, 2024. He was given 136 days of jail credit for time already served at the RCSO. Tess also received 18 months to three years of mandatory post-release control and must pay $126.68 in restitution to the victim in the case.