DARKE COUNTY — Two men learned their fate Monday, as they were sentenced in Darke County Common Pleas Court.
Mickel Blankenship, 54, of Greenville, was sentenced to 30 days in jail, with work release.
In October 2015, Blankenship was arrested after selling to a paid informant of the Darke County Sheriff’s Office what he believed to be heroin caplets.
On November 9, a jury found him guilty of two fourth-degree felony counts of trafficking heroin within the vicinity of a school.
Darke County Assistant Prosecutor Deborah Quigley asked the court to impose some prison time, while defense attorney Dave Rohrer asked for community control without jail as no heroin was actually sold.
Blankenship apologized for his actions before sentencing.
In handing down the sentence, Judge Jonathan Hein told Blankenship he “wasn’t very smart” for what he did.
“The expectation has to be, you do better,” Hein said. In addition to the 30 days in jail, Blankenship must pay court costs, $250 restitution, receive substance abuse and mental health counseling, and perform 35 hours of community service. He will be under community control sanctions for up to five years.
Daniel Rismiller, 25, of Versailles, was sentenced to 60 days in jail, with 45 days suspended, after pleading guilty in November to a charge of sexual imposition — a third-degree felony.
In total, he will serve 15 days in jail, with work release, to commence at a later date.
Before the plea deal, Rismiller had been charged with gross sexual imposition, a second-degree felony.
Darke County Prosecuting Attorney R. Kelly Ormsby said the plea deal “spares the victim from coming back from [state redacted] for trial and and go through a trial.”
Rismiller said he “deeply regretted” his actions, calling it one of his “biggest mistakes.”
Judge Hein also sentenced Rismiller to pay court costs, a fine of $500, continue treatment for alcohol issues, perform 50 hours of community service, and five years of community control. He must also register as a Tier 1 sex offender for a period of 15 years.
The question of restitution remained unsettled, with Rismiller’s defense attorneys, Alex Pendl and Scott Rudnick, seeking more time to examine restitution claims by the victim. Hein said the court will establish a hearing to determine the amount.
