GREENVILLE — A Greenville man avoided prison time after pleading guilty Tuesday in Darke County Common Pleas Court.
Kent E. Minnich, 43, entered a guilty plea to a third-degree felony count of having weapons under disability. Minnich was arrested in June after a residence check by probation officers on Minnich’s wife discovered the presence of a .22 caliber rifle and .22 caliber handgun in the home. As a previously convicted felon, Minnich is prohibited from possessing firearms, though he asserted the guns belonged to his father.
Judge Jonathan P. Hein accepted Minnich’s guilty plea and sentenced Minnich to up to five years of community control. Assistant Prosecutor James Bennett had asked the court to impose a sentence of 18 months in prison. Minnich was represented in court by defense attorney Dave Rohrer.
In addition to community control, Minnich will serve 30 days of monitored house arrest, with work release privileges. He must also pay $25 per week in court costs until his debts for this case and prior court debts are paid. The two guns were also forfeited. If Minnich fails to comply with the terms of his probation, he could serve up to 18 months in prison.
Three other defendants appeared Tuesday in Darke County Common Pleas Court.
Jordyn A. Cook, 21, of Columbus, Ohio, appeared in court via video teleconference from the Darke County Jail. She was arrested by Union City, Ohio, police October 30, charged with possession of LSD and possession of a controlled substance, both fifth-degree felonies. The court appointed defense attorney Randall Breaden to represent her and entered a not guilty plea on her behalf. She was released on her own recognizance. Her next court date is November 16.
Jason L. Hunt, 24, of Greenville, was arraigned via video on two drug charges — aggravated trafficking of drugs within the vicinity of a school, a third-degree felony, and aggravated trafficking of methamphetamine, a fourth-degree felony. The court appointed Rohrer to represent Hunt and entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. He was released on his own recognizance. He next appears in court November 30.
Matthew D. Boyle, 27, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, waived his right to an extradition hearing. Boyle is wanted in Logan County Common Pleas Court on a felony charge of domestic violence. The court set his bond at $5,000.
