GREENVILLE — On Monday, Darke County Common Pleas Court Judge Jonathan Hein sentenced Deborah Fornshil to 60 months community control for drug trafficking.
Fornshil, 53, of Greenville, was arrested in February, along with Stephanie Lyn Brandeberry, on multiple drug charges, including selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a school.
Darke County Assistant Prosecutor Deb Quigley asked the court to impose a 90-day prison sentence in addition to community control.
“While this was a low-level offense, the state takes this offense very seriously because of the effects of heroin and selling it, putting it into the community,” she said, pointing out that Fornshil had actually trafficked Fentanyl, a substance used to cut heroin.
Fornshil had been charged with two felony counts of complicity. She expressed remorse for her actions, saying, “I am extremely sorry, and feel a tremendous amount of guilt for the trouble I have brought into this community.”
In addition to the 60 months of community control, Hein sentenced her to 12 days in jail, with 12 days credited, 75 hours of community service, as well as court costs and lab fees. If she violates the terms of her probation, she faces one year in prison.
Also appearing in court was Jesse Steen, who was also sentenced to 60 months community control. He faced penalties of one year in prison and $2,500 in fines.
Steen, 28, of Union City, Ohio, was arrested in June for violating a civil protection order against his wife. He further faced two counts of domestic violence and one count of resisting arrest for incidents in April and May.
The state agreed to a guilty plea on a single domestic violence charge, but sought prison time.
Quigley told the court that the state did not believe Steen was “amenable to community control,” and recommended a prison term of 10 months in addition to probation and court costs.
Defense attorney Dave Rohrer asked the court for leniency, pointing to Steen’s mental issues.
“My client has mental issues that he needs help with…I find that to be important,” he said. “When people have physical issues, we deal with that with a doctor, with mental issues, too many times we put that aside and don’t do anything with it.”
“Some people need to go to prison. I just don’t see where Mr. Steen going to prison is going to help him at all,” Rohrer added.
Steen expressed remorse, but also pointed to a long history of substance abuse and bad elements in his life. He told the court he hoped to keep straight and find employment.
In response, Hein told Steen, “It’s all a good plan. The question always is, why people don’t do what they know they ought to do?”
“If there was a ‘magic pill’ that would have people do what they know they ought to do, and make everybody in the world take it, not just you guys, everybody. Something called ‘free will’ keeps getting in the way,” he added. “All your words are helpful, but they don’t mean jack. It’s your actions I have to look at.”
In addition to community control, Steen was credited for a total of 86 days in jail, must pay court costs and must serve 75 hours of community service. He could face a year in prison if he violates the terms of his probation.
