Transformation can begin with Crestline pastor's book '28 Days to Better You'
NEWS

Torin Jones changes his tune before judge

Todd Hill
Reporter
Torin Jones

BUCYRUS - A case that appeared to be headed for a jury trial later this week instead was resolved with a plea deal Monday in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.

Torin Jones, 44, of Bucyrus, pleaded guilty to five counts of heroin possession, and was then quickly sentenced by Judge Sean Leuthold to nearly five years in prison, following a prosecutor's recommendation. Jones faced a maximum of nearly eight years behind bars.

The tenor of the hearing was in marked contrast to a competency hearing for Jones just last week that ended with an extended outburst from Jones.

"This is political bulls---. I'm being railroaded. They're putting fake cases on people," Jones shouted then, earning two findings of contempt from Leuthold, each coming with 30 days in jail.

On Monday, however, Jones was polite, answering all the judge's questions with, "Yes, sir," or, "Yes, your honor." At the end of the proceedings, Leuthold told the defendant, "Good luck, Mr. Jones," without any of the admonishments to stop committing crimes the judge often bestows upon defendants after sentencing them.

As part of his plea deal, two charges that were leveled against Jones following his arrest during a traffic stop on Oct. 12, 2015 — intimidation of a witness and another drug-possession count — were dismissed. Those later charges appeared to be behind Jones's tirade in court last week.

Jones was a recent returnee to the court. On May 31, Jones, following another traffic stop, wound up in a jail on a charge of cocaine possession. That case went to a jury, which found Jones not guilty. A bag of nearly 10 grams of cocaine was found on the ground next to the patrol cruiser after the officer led Jones into the vehicle, but the prosecution was unable to prove the drug had been in Jones' possession before it was found.

In this latest case, Jones was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Brooklyn Gilliland, 27, of Bucyrus, when it was pulled over. Gilliland was wanted on a warrant for trafficking in drugs. She pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in drugs late last month.

thill3@nncogannett.com

419-563-9225

Twitter: @ToddHillMNJ