Broader perspective on sentencing needed
The views of Union City Police Chief Mark Ater published in
The Daily Advocate on March 4 deserve correction. Like many debaters, he hand picked convenient facts, argued them to his pre-determined conclusion, and disparaged Prosecutors, Judges and Victim Advocates along the way.
Since the Chief failed to attend any of the Court proceedings, he was not thorough in investigating the facts. He had no first-hand knowledge on which to base his viewpoint and opinions (this is a good example why hearsay evidence is not permitted in Court proceedings).
However, instead of trying to set the facts straight on this one case, a broader perspective on the law may be helpful to the public.
Community safety should be first
By Mark Ater - Union City, Ohio Police Chief
A couple of months ago, I wrote asking the community a question. That question was, “when is enough, enough?” A couple months have since past and I have concluded that in Darke County, enough has not yet been enough.
In my earlier release, I brought up the case of a late twenties female, that was filed on September 23, 2020; the offender in this case punched two Greenville Police Officers and then bit a paramedic from the Greenville Township Fire Department. The Darke County Common Pleas Court initially released her on her own recognizance (no bond). On March 1, 2021, the offender in this case appeared for sentencing after pleading guilty. The offender pleaded, and was found guilty, of two counts of assault on a peace officer and one count of assault on a EMS personnel. All three charges are felonies of the fourth-degree. All three of these charges have a maximum penalty of 18 months per count and a
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Four appear in court
Cruze
GREENVILLE Four people appeared in Darke County Common Pleas Court on Monday. Judge Jonathan P. Hein presided.
Gary D. Cruze, 37, of Greenville, entered into an intervention in lieu of conviction (ILC) program after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. As a part of his sentence, Cruze was ordered to report to the adult probation department to complete recommended drug and alcohol treatment programs. The court holds Cruze’s guilty plea as a part of the ILC, and if he fails to comply with treatment recommendations, he will return to court to be sentenced on the original charge.
Court hears burglary, assault, weapons charges
Yount
GREENVILLE Six people appeared in Darke County Common Pleas Court between Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Judge Jonathan P. Hein presided.
Austin A. Littlepage, 24, of Greenville, was arraigned on one count of burglary, a second-degree felony. If convicted, Littlepage faces a maximum prison sentence of 8 to 12 years and a maximum fine of $15,000. He pleaded not guilty, was released on an OR bond, and retained his previous attorney. His next appearance is scheduled for March 4.
Dustin C. Yount, 36, of New Madison, appeared in court for a change of plea and pleaded guilty to two separate charges. The first, aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, is punishable by a maximum prison term of 11 to 16.5 years and a maximum fine of $20,000. A prison term is presumed necessary for this charge. The second, cruelty against a companion animal, a first-degree misdemeanor, is punishable by 180 days in jail and a fine of $1,000. The cou