GREENVILLE – Anthony Austin Price, 22, was sentenced to jail and probation in the Darke County Court of Common Pleas, Friday.
Price, of Ansonia, entered a guilty plea to Receiving Stolen Property, fourth-degree felony, Receiving Stolen Property, a misdemeanor first-degree and two counts of Breaking and Entering, fifth-degree felonies.
Austin was originally accused of the following: two counts of Breaking and Entering, fifth-degree felonies; Grand Theft, third-degree felony; Theft, a misdemeanor first-degree; Receiving stolen property, misdemeanor first-degree and Receiving stolen property, fourth-degree felony, according to Darke County court records.
Price was represented in court by Defense Attorney Randall E. Breaden. According to Breaden the thefts happened in a rural area outside of Ansonia and some of the items were found in Price’s home.
Assistant Prosecutor Deborah Quigley said the state and defendant had a joint recommendation based on the plea agreement. They suggested Price be placed on community control and that he serve 30 days in the Darke County Jail with credit for his two days served. Following the jail service, the defendant would serve 60 days of house arrest and pay the victims $1,750 restitution, which is their insurance deductible, Quigley said. Quigley, read a letter during the sentencing from one of the victims, regarding recommendations for the sentencing of Price.
“The violation of our home, our safety was compromised,” it read in part. “Until they learn a lesson, nothing is going to change.”
Breaden said the court should adopt the joint recommendation of the parties. However, he noted that Price is currently employed.
“If he could serve that additional 28 days with work release, that would allow him to maintain his employment which is necessary for a couple of reasons,” he said. “Price supports a child and his girlfriend. In addition, he needs to pay restitution and he needs employment to pay that. Price has been doing very well on pre-trial supervision and in all of the programs required. He has showed great improvement along the way.”
Price’s pastor also spoke on his behalf. Common Pleas Court Judge Jonathan Hein acknowledged Price’s substance abuse history.
“I’m glad you have a support system and a family – that is a good thing,” Judge Hein said. “That doesn’t mean you have it made, that means you have an advantage.”
Hein placed Price under community control sanctions, where he will be supervised for 60 months. He was ordered 30 days in jail, with two days credit, leaving the remaining 28 days with work-release privileges. Also, he was ordered 60 days of electronically – monitored house arrest with work-release privileges.
“The oddity in that recommendation is it costs money to have you on electronic house arrest, that won’t go to the victims as restitution,” Judge Hein said.
In addition, Price was ordered to pay restitution of $1,750 and court costs and serve 75 hours of community service. Hein also told him to find additional work to equal 40 hours a week or more.
“Back when I did that, I wasn’t thinking about anyone but myself,” Price said. “Once I found out I was going to have a daughter, I stopped associating with everyone that I used to hang out with. I have maybe one or two friends now.”
“It might be good if you have one to two real friends, because the other people you call friends, never were,” Hein said. “Learning to run away from knuckleheads is real important.”
