Hart
pleads guilty to Felony 3 drug charge
By
Bob Robinson
GREENVILLE
– Jacob A. Hart pleaded guilty Oct. 1 to a single count of Illegal
Assembly or Possession of Chemicals for the Manufacture of Drugs, a
Third Degree Felony. Sentencing will occur Nov. 18.
As
part of the plea agreement the state dropped two other charges:
Illegal Manufacture of Drugs, Felony 2, and Possession of Criminal
Tools, Felony 5.
“There
were four people involved in this case,” said Asst. Prosecuting
Attorney Deborah Quigley. “Two of them are in custody. Should we
get the other two we will expect Mr. Hart’s cooperation in their
prosecution.”
Quigley
added the last she heard the other two are in Texas. Will they ever
get them…
“When
they come back to see a relative over the holidays,” quipped Darke
County Prosecutor Kelly Ormsby. “Especially if the relative doesn’t
happen to like them very much,” Quigley added.
“Then
there are funerals,” Ormsby said. “Everyone comes home sooner or
later.”
Both
noted they have apprehended fugitives in that manner more than once.
In
the courtroom Common Pleas Judge Jonathan Hein explained the
consequences of pleading guilty to the Felony 3 charge. He said
incarceration was not required, nor was the maximum fine of $10,000.
There was a mandatory fine of $5,000 and a minimum license suspension
of six months.
“If
you go to prison you could be placed on post release control,” he
said. “You give up your right to a trial.” After making sure Hart
understood his rights and the consequences of his plea, Hein asked
him for it.
Hart
pleaded guilty; Hein accepted the plea and advised him there would be
a pre-sentencing investigation and a prison sentence would be
considered based upon the report.
“If
they say step and fetch it,” Hein noted, “you do it. Understood?”
Quigley
said at this point there is no state recommendation for sentencing.
It would depend on the pre-sentencing report.
She
added the defendant had one prior felony, a breaking and entering.
Hart’s co-defendant is Edward F. Dingman, trial date not yet
available. He is charged with drug related Felonies 4, 3 and 5.
Hart’s attorney is Randall Breaden.
Published
courtesy of Blue Bag Media
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