MOUNT VERNON — A prison term was handed to one Mount Vernon man and it looks to be in the cards for another.
Christopher Jobin, 46, was sentenced in Knox County Common Pleas Wednesday morning to a total of 36 months in prison and will be placed on mandatory post release control for three years after he serves his time.
Jobin pleaded guilty in October to an amended charge of felony 3 burglary and assault, a first-degree misdemeanor. On Wednesday, he received a 30-month prison sentence for the felony and another six months for the misdemeanor.
Thirty-five-year-old Jeremy Casler pleaded guilty to domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony.
Casler admitted that on Sept. 9 a police officer was dispatched to an East Walnut Street home on a domestic violence call. Casler was accused of grabbing and throwing the victim involved in the case.
Attorneys for both the State and the defense have an agreed-to 18-month prison sentence in place – the maximum allowed for the felony 4 offense. The term could have been longer, but a charge of felony 1 aggravated burglary was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Judge Richard Wetzel ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set a sentencing date for Feb. 2.
Treg Davis, who had been on intervention for a receiving stolen property felony, not only violated that program, but also added a few more felonies to his record in October.
Wetzel, however, believed the 20-year-old Mount Vernon man had an opportunity to turn his life around.
Davis admitted he violated his intervention program when he possessed marijuana and methamphetamines, and showed a positive urine screen for drugs. Wetzel continued Davis’ community control in that 2016 case and sentenced him to three years of community control for the 2017 charges of trafficking in marijuana and improperly handling firearms.
“You’ve got a lot going for you,” Wetzel told Davis. “When I talk to you I don’t think you’re taking in what I say. You’ve got lots of chances.”
Wetzel handed Davis another chance by sending him to a community-based correctional facility that is safe and secure.
“I got to place some structure so you can get on the right track,” Wetzel said. “It’s a safe place and you would do well there if you put your mind to it.”
Davis will also have to forfeit $1,025 to the Mount Vernon Police Department and complete a drug and alcohol assessment as part of the 2017 plea deal. If Davis fails to complete his latest program, he could face up to 26 months in prison.
Thirty-two-year-old Joshua Loveland pleaded guilty to felony 4 drug possession, which was amended down from a third-degree felony charge of aggravated drug possession.
Loveland was found with 3.06 grams of methamphetamine in a backpack on March 30 after being pulled over for a routine traffic stop.
Wetzel ordered a pre-sentence investigation, set a hearing for Feb. 2, and continued Loveland’s bond. Loveland could face up to 18 months in prison for the fourth-degree felony.
Two men were also arraigned on sex-related crimes.
Thirty-four-year-old Robert Upchurch is now facing felony charges of pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor (felony 2), the illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented materials (felony 2), pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor (felony 4), and the illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material (felony 4). If Upchurch is found guilty of all four charges and sentenced to maximum consecutive sentences, he could face up to 19 years in prison.
Wetzel set bond at $25,000 with a 10 percent provision.
Upchurch was arrested in November after an investigation by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
Thirty-one-year-old Michael Ashcraft was arraigned on five charges: importuning (felony 4), unlawful sexual conduct with a minor (felony 5), attempted compelling prostition (felony 4), attempted corrupting another with drugs (felony 3), and failure to provide a change of address (felony 4). If Ashcraft is found guilty of all five charges and sentenced to maximum consecutive sentences, he could face up to eight-and-a-half years in prison.
The victim in the case was a 15-year-old minor.
Wetzel ordered Ashcraft to be held without bond until the defendant is able to obtain a public defender.
