GREENVILLE — Darke County Common Pleas Court heard cases involving theft, trafficking, community control violation and sex offender registry on Monday. Judge Jonathan P. Hein presided.
Mya Stump, of Union City, pleaded guilty to probation violation. Stump previously was placed on substance abuse intervention in lieu of conviction on charges of theft, a fourth-degree felony, and grand theft firearm, a third-degree felony. Stump’s probation officer alleged that she had failed to report to the Darke County Office of Adult Probation, or to enroll in substance abuse treatment, since being released.
“She’s completed the most intense treatment program we have, which is the MonDay program, and went right back to using drugs,” Darke County Assistant Prosecutor Deborah Quigley told the court.
Quigley recommended that Stump’s ILC agreement be revoked and a 24-month prison sentence imposed.
Defense attorney David Rohrer asked the court for a more lenient approach.
“We’re not talking about an offense of violence here,” Rohrer said. “We’re talking about a problem with addiction that needs to be treated. I don’t see why we should send her to prison so she can continue her drug problem. We all know prison is full of drugs because the guards are paid to bring them in.”
Judge Hein sentenced Stump to 24 months in prison with 254 days credit and up to three years possible post-release supervision.
“You’re the big unknown,” Judge Hein told the defendant. “Maybe you’re too smart for your own good or maybe you think the rules just don’t apply to you. Either way, we’re done. We’re out of resources. All that’s left is to do your time, and I hope it works out for you.”
In other news:
Casey Bercaw, 31, of Union City, Indiana, pleaded not guilty to charges of theft and breaking and entering, both fifth-degree felonies. Bercaw was arraigned on the charges Aug. 15, at which time Judge Hein appointed attorney David Rohrer to represent the defendant and released him on his own recognizance.
Bercaw currently is incarcerated and awaiting trial on a separate charge in Randolph County, Indiana; his record includes previous charges for domestic violence and endangering children. Rohrer asked Judge Hein to continue the O/R bond so the defendant could participate in pre-trial work release; Hein set bond at $30,000 and set a pre-trial conference for Nov. 26.
Darrell Perkins, 40, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated trafficking, a fourth-degree felony. Two additional counts were dismissed in accordance with a plea agreement between Perkins and the Darke County Prosecutor’s Office. Perkins was picked up on a driving under suspension charge in Illinois and returned to face charges in Ohio.
Judge Hein accepted the defendant’s guilty plea. Perkins’ next court appearance is a sentencing hearing, to be held December 10.
Monte Hardin, of Greenville, was expected to enter a guilty plea to charges of failure to register with authorities in Darke County as a convicted sex offender, a third-degree felony carrying penalties of up to 18 months in prison and a possible $5,000 fine. Hardin was convicted of viewing child pornography on computers at a community center in Clark County in 2015, allegedly viewing 78 websites containing illegal images in a 90-minute period. Hardin was living at a senior care facility in New Carlisle at the time.
Hardin appeared confused in court and did not seem to understand the details of the plea agreement or the charges against him. He also claimed to have been “framed” for the previous child pornography charge. Rohrer asked the court for a continuance. Hardin’s next court appearance is set for Wednesday.
