ASHLAND — There were 28 people who received sentences in February for felony convictions in Ashland County.
Another two received “in-lieu of convictions” (ILC) and another five cases were closed because the court issued warrants for their arrests, according to records from Ashland County Common Pleas Court.
Three sentences were given Feb. 3:
- Kyle Rhees, 50, of Marion, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for his conviction of failure to provide change of address. He will be on post-release control for up to two years after completing his incarceration. The initial charge was filed on Nov. 17. He was also sentenced a 24=month imprisonment for his conviction of failing to register, to be served consecutive to the previous prison term.
- Trent Grant, 19, of Ashland, was sentenced to community control with a reserved prison sentence of six to 18 months for his conviction of trafficking in marijuana. The court dismissed a charge of corrupting another with drugs. He also faces a $250 financial sanction. If prison is imposed, he faces up to two years of post-release control. The initial charge was filed May 10.
- Patrick Castle, 23, of Ashland, was sentenced to nine months in prison for his conviction of aggravated possession of methamphetamine. The court credited him 189 days already served in jail. He faces up to two years of post-release control and court costs.
Two sentences were given Feb. 6:
- John Buonocore, 44, of Manchester, New Jersey, was sentenced to six months in prison for his conviction of identity fraud. His charges of forgery and theft were dismissed. Buonocore received 84 days of jail credit. He also may served up to two years of post-release control after his sentence is complete. The initial charge was filed Oct. 13.
- Thomas Staton, 64, of Shelby, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his conviction of aggravated possession of methamphetamine. A charge of tampering with evidence was dismissed. He received 94 days of jail credit. He faces up to two years of post-release control upon his release. The initial charge was filed Nov. 6.
Two sentences were given Feb. 7:
- Jeffrey Priola, 31, of Lakewood, was sentenced to community control for the conviction of two counts of having weapons under disability. Two counts of improper handling and carrying a concealed weapon were dismissed. Priola received six days of jail credit and he faces up to two years of post-release control upon his release. The initial charge was filed Aug. 30.
- David Dean, 40, of Polk, was sentenced to six months in prison for the conviction of violating a protection order. He received 131 days of jail credit. Dean faces up to two years of post-release control and court costs. The initial charge was filed Aug. 30.
Nine sentences were given Feb. 10:
- Brittney Murphy-Marks, 30, of Sullivan, was sentenced to eight months in prison for her conviction of aggravated possession of methamphetamine. She received 74 days of jail credit. She faces up to two years of post-release control upon release and court costs. The initial charge was filed Sept. 13.
- Nathan Nichols, 39, of Ashland, was sentenced to 12 months of prison for his conviction of aggravated possession of methamphetamine. He received 47 days of jail credit. He faces up to two years of post-release control upon release and court costs. The initial charge was filed April 3. Nichols was also sentenced to six to nine years in prison for a conviction of involuntary manslaughter. A charge of failing to provide for a functionally impaired person was dismissed. He received 239 days of jail credit for that sentencing. He also faces one to three years of mandatory post-release control upon release and court costs. The initial charges were filed June 14.
- Nellion Wilson, 22, of South Euclid, Ohio, was sentenced to six months in prison for his conviction of carrying a concealed weapon. A charge of improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle was dismissed. He received eight days of jail credit. Wilson faces up to two years of post-release control upon his release and court costs.
- Shawna Lake, 33, of Shreve, was sentenced to two years of community control for the conviction of aggravated possession of methamphetamine and theft. A charge of failure to reinstate was dismissed. She received 75 days of jail credit. She faces up to two years post-release control upon release, as well as financial sanctions totaling $300. She also must forfeit her firearm.
- Joshua Mullins, 33, of Ashland, was sentenced to three to 4.5 years on a conviction of corrupting another with drugs and nine months for a conviction of assault. The imprisonment will be served consecutively. A charge of aggravated trafficking methadone was dismissed. Mullins received 174 days of jail credit. He faces 18 months to three years of mandatory post-release control and court costs. The initial charges were filed Aug. 23.
- Tangie Dewiel, 28, of Ashland, was sentenced to a merged imprisonment of six months for the convictions of aggravated possession of methamphetamine and possession of cocaine. Dewiel received 80 days of jail credit and faces up to two years of post-release control and court costs. The initial charges were filed Feb. 9, 2024.
- Devin Rohn, 22, of Toledo, was sentenced to two 12-month prison terms, to be served concurrently for the conviction of breaking and entering and receiving stolen property. The charges of attemp and possession of criminal tools were dismissed. Rohn received 71 days of jail credit and faces up to two years of post-release upon release and court costs. The initial charges were filed Dec. 4.
- Kevin Crouse, 54, of Shreve, Ohio, was sentenced to three prison terms totaling 18 months. Two of the terms will be served consecutively. The third, a term of 180 days, will be served consecutively. The sentences stem from his conviction of failure to comply, possession of cocaine and an OVI. The charge of driving under suspicion was dismissed. He received 82 days of jail credit and faces up to two years of post-release control. He also faces a financial sanction of $375, plus court costs. He must also forfeit his vehicle.
- Tavian Thomas, 23, of Akron, was resentenced by a visiting judge to three prison terms, to be served concurrently, totaling up to eight years. The resentencing stems from the convictions of kidnapping, intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness in a criminal case and domestic violence. The following charges were dismissed: abduction, carrying a concealed weapon (two counts), improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle (two counts), menacing by stalking, intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness, possessing criminal tools, aggravated menacing (two counts). He received 432 days of jail credit. Thomas faces five years of mandatory post-release control and he must forfeit a firearm. The initial charges were filed Jan. 25, 2022.
One sentence was given Feb. 11:
- Howard Walters, 60, of Ashland, was sentenced to 33 years to life in prison for his conviction of aggravated murder, three counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of aggravated robbery and three counts of tampering with evidence. Read Ashland Source’s full story from his sentence here.
One sentence was given Feb 14:
- Amber White, 35, of Crestline, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for her conviction of illegal conveyance of drugs. A charge of tampering with evidence was dismissed. She received 63 days of jail credit. White faces up to two years of post-release control upon release, a $5,000 financial sanction and court costs. The intial charges were filed Dec. 13.
Four sentences were given Feb. 20:
- Tara Preece, 35, of Ashland, was sentenced to three consecutive prison terms totaling 54 months for convictions of aggravated trafficking of methamphetamine (two counts) and trafficking cocaine. The charges of trafficking a fentanyl-related compound and aggravated possession of methamphetamine were dismissed. She received 106 days of jail credit. Preece faces up to two years of post-release control upon release. She also faces two financial sanctions totaling $10,000 and court costs. The initial charges were filed Nov. 7.
- Michelle Chapman, 33, of Ashland, was sentenced to six months in prison for the conviction of possession of cocaine. She faces up to two years of post-release control upon release and court costs. The initial charge was filed July 11.
- Richard Phillips, 39, of Clinton Township, Mich., was sentenced to six months in prison for his conviction of aggravated possession of methamphetamine. He received 63 days of jail credit and two years of post-release control upon release, plus court costs. The initial charge was filed Dec. 7, 2023. He was also sentenced to six months in prison, to be served consecutively to the sentence above. He also faces two years of post-release control upon release, plus court costs. The initial charge was filed Aug. 12.
Two sentences were given Feb. 21:
- Jason Underwood, 43, of Medina, was sentenced to six months in prison for a conviction of attempted strangulation. The charges of assault, strangulation and assault were dismissed. He received 93 days of jail credit and faces up to two years of post-release control, plus court costs. The initial charge was filed Nov. 20.
- Angela Schneider, 48, of Loudonville, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the conviction of aggravated possession of methamphetamine. She received 45 days of jail credit. Schneider faces up to two years of post-release control upon release and court costs. The initial charge was filed Dec. 20, 2023.
Four sentences were given Feb. 24:
- Robert Bowman, 36, of Shiloh, was sentenced to six months in prison for a conviction of aggravated possession of methamphetamine. He received 131 days of jail credit. He faces up to two years of post-release control, court costs and the forfeiture of his automobile. The initial charge was filed June 8, 2023.
- Andrew Dorion, 38, of Ashland, was sentenced to two years of community control for the conviction of abusting harmful intoxicants and using weapons while intoxicated. If prison is imposed, Dorion faces up to two years of post-release control. He also faces financial sanctions totaling $300 and court costs. He must also serve 100 hours of community work service. The initial charges were filed Feb. 29, 2024.
- Kyle Nguyen, 26, of Columbus, was sentenced to two 6-month prison terms, to be served concurrently. The sentences stem from the convictions of improper handling and aggravated possession of oxycodone. A charge of carrying a concealed weapon was dismissed. He received 45 days of jail credit. Nguyen faces up to two years of post-release control, court costs and the forfeiture of his firearm. The initial charges were filed Feb. 10, 2022.
- Jared Yoder, 24, of Mansfield, was sentenced to two years of community control for the conviction of misuse of a credit card. If prison is imposed, he faces 20 days in jail. If that happens, he gets two day of jail credit and up to two years of post-release control. He also faces a $250 financial sanction, plus court costs and 100 hours of community work service.
One sentence was given Feb. 28:
- John Decenso, 38, of Austintown, was sentenced to 90 days in jail for the conviction of aggravated possession of drugs. He received three days of jail credit. Decenso faces up to two years of post-release control upon release, a $250 financial sanction and court costs. The initial charge was filed Nov. 17.
The court also imposed two “in-lieu of conviction” or ILC sentences.
- David DeWitte, 43, of North Royalton, must complete two years of supervision, maintain sobriety and compliance with terms of supervision, complete a drug and alcohol program and pay court costs. The ILC, imposed Feb. 10, stems from the conviction of possession of cocaine. The initial charge was filed Dec. 19.
- Kari Hawk, 53, of Mansfield, must complete two years of supervision, maintain sobriety and compliance with terms of supervision, complete a drug and alcohol program and pay court costs. The ILC, imposed Feb. 10, stems from the conviction of theft of drugs. The initial charge was filed Sept. 13.
The court also issued warrants for the following people facing felonies. (There cases were recorded as closed until law enforcement apprehends them.)
- Darwin Ramos Gamboa
- Samantha Skinner
- Mathew Tharin
- Jesicah Arnold
- Kenneth Ruble