ASHLAND — A 40-year-old Mansfield man was recently sentenced to six years in prison related to the Feb. 19 death of a 26-year-old man in Ashland County.
Joseph Doering was sentenced Oct. 5 in Ashland County Common Pleas Court and received consecutive prison sentences of 36, 24 and 12 months. Doering’s charges included reckless homicide, tampering with evidence and aggravated possession of drugs.
He received 229 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. Upon release, Doering will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated Feb. 20.
Ashland County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher R. Tunnell announced that charges had been filed against the 40-year-old in Ashland County Common Pleas Court following the death of Brandon N. Sheaffer, of Mifflin.
The charges stated that Doering “recklessly caused the death of Sheaffer during an incident in which the parties were allegedly engaged in methamphetamine use and other high-risk behavior.”
According to the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, local emergency services were dispatched to 39 Maine St. at 5:04 p.m. on Feb. 19 in reference to an unresponsive person.
First responders arrived on the scene and located Sheaffer, who was lying unconscious and unresponsive inside the residence. Life-saving measures were initiated, but Sheaffer did not survive.
Detectives reportedly discovered methamphetamine and additional evidence inside the 39 Maine St. residence during the investigation.
During Doering’s bond hearing in February, Ashland County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Metcalf said the 40-year-old was engaged in methamphetamine use, as well as other risky behavior with the victim.
“Ultimately, we believe the defendant’s behavior contributed to and/or caused the death of the victim in this matter,” Metcalf said in February.
Full list of individuals sentenced in October
There were 22 other individuals sentenced in October for felony convictions in Ashland County.
Common Pleas Court Judge David Stimpert ordered the following sentences, unless otherwise noted. The following names stem from a report generated by Stimpert.
Two people sentenced Oct. 1
- Kacy Smith, 37, of Galloway, was sentenced to 70 days in jail and a drug and alcohol program for convictions of possession of cocaine and possession of a fentanyl-related compound. Smith received 70 days of jail credit and also faces a $250 fine, plus court costs. Upon release, Smith will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction if prison is imposed. Smith also received community control, with reserved prison time of six to 12 months (on each charge) if community control is violated. The case originated March 13, 2024.
- Richard George, 48, of Wooster, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for a conviction of aggravated possession of methamphetamine. George received 18 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. Upon release, George will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated May 10, 2024.
- In a separate case, George was sentenced to 10 months in prison (concurrent to the sentence listed above) for a conviction of aggravated possession of methamphetamine. George did not receive any jail credit in this case and also faces court costs. Upon release, George will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated June 18.
Four people sentenced Oct. 5
- Brandon Arthur, 26, of Ashland, was sentenced to 10.5 to 14.5 years in prison for convictions of illegal use of a minor or impaired person in nudity oriented material, illegal use of minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance and 38 counts of pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person in nudity oriented material. The 30 counts of pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person were dismissed. Arthur received 188 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. He must also register as a Tier II sex offender. Upon release, Arthur faces a mandatory five-year post-release control sanction. The case originated April 3.
- Reed Saltzgaber, 20, of Ashland, was sentenced to one year in prison for a conviction of domestic violence. Two additional counts (robbery and disrupting public service) were dismissed. Saltzgaber received 109 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. Upon release, Saltzgaber will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated June 22.
- William Trivanovich, 53, of Nova, was sentenced to nine months in prison for convictions of possession of a fentanyl-related compound and possession of heroin. Trivanovich received 69 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. Upon release, Trivanovich will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated June 18.
- Broch Kutscher, 37, of Newcomerstown, was sentenced to eight months in prison and 30 days in jail (concurrent by law) for convictions of possession of cocaine and OVI. An additional OVI charge and one count of receiving stolen property were dismissed. Kutscher received 56 days of jail credit and also faces a $565 fine, plus court costs. Upon release, Kutscher will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated July 10.
Two people sentenced Oct. 9
- Jadyn Leon, 24, of Huber Heights, was sentenced to 60 days in jail for a conviction of improper handling. An additional improper handling charge was dismissed. Leon received five days of jail credit and also faces a $250 fine, plus court costs. Upon release, Leon will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction if prison is imposed. Leon also received two years of community control, with reserved prison time of six to 18 months if community control is violated. The case originated June 3.
- Michael Brown, 33, of Ashland, was sentenced to nine months in prison and 150 days in jail (concurrent by law) for convictions of domestic violence and endangering children. An additional count of endangering children was dismissed. Brown received 98 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. Upon release, Brown will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated July 6.
One person sentenced Oct. 15
- Jennifer Reeder, 46, of Mansfield, was sentenced to six months in prison for a conviction of aggravated possession of methamphetamine. Reeder received 35 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. Upon release, Reeder will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated May 20, 2024.
Seven people sentenced Oct. 19
- Alfred Brusaw, 70, was sentenced to one year in prison for a conviction of trespass in habitation. Brusaw received 142 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. Upon release, Brusaw will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated June 1.
- Gregory Adkins, 23, of Cleveland, was sentenced to one year in prison after being found guilty by a jury on one count of assault. Adkins received 18 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. Upon release, Adkins will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated April 6.
- Edna Carey, 56, of Ashland, was sentenced to a substance abuse treatment program for a conviction of possession of cocaine. One count of trafficking in cocaine was dismissed. Carey received three days of jail credit and also faces a $250 fine, plus court costs. Upon release, Carey will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction if prison is imposed. Carey also received two years of community control, with reserved prison time of six to 12 months if community control is violated. The case originated April 16.
- Jacob Bowens, 21, of Sullivan, was sentenced to one year in prison for convictions of pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor (four counts). Four counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material were dismissed. Bowens received no jail credit and also faces court costs. He must also register as a Tier II sex offender. Upon release, Bowens faces a mandatory five-year post-release control sanction. The case originated March 6.
- Matthew Hunt, 26, of Ashland, was sentenced to nine months in prison for a conviction of having weapons under disability. An additional count of the same charge was dismissed. Hunt received 68 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. Upon release, Hunt will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated Aug. 13.
- Andrew Mason, 30, of West Salem, was sentenced to nine years in prison, plus post-release control termination time of 592 days, for convictions of pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor (12 counts). Thirteen counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material were dismissed. Mason received 140 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. He must also register as a Tier II sex offender. Upon release, Mason faces a mandatory five-year post-release control sanction. The case originated Oct. 11, 2024.
- Juan Diaz, 46, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 120 days in jail for a conviction of OVI. Additional counts of OVI and driving under suspension were dismissed. Diaz received 39 days of jail credit. Diaz also received two years of community control. The case originated March 12.
One person sentenced Oct. 22
- Nicholas Dunn, 37, of Cleveland, was sentenced to nine months in prison for a conviction of aggravated possession of drugs. Dunn received 65 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. Upon release, Dunn will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated July 9.
One person sentenced Oct. 23
- Scott Baker, 52, of Orient, was sentenced to nine months in prison for a conviction of aggravated possession of drugs. Baker received 44 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. Upon release, Baker will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated Feb. 13, 2025.
Four people sentenced Oct. 26
- Dustin Shook, 39, of Mt. Vernon, was sentenced to three years in prison for convictions of three amended counts of attempted burglary. Shook received 90 days of jail credit and also faces court costs, along with $848.94 in restitution. Upon release, Shook will face a mandatory post-release control sanction of one to three years. The case originated March 12.
- Curtis Vasquez, 49, of Mansfield, received two 18-month prison sentences and two 180-day jail sentences, to be served concurrently, to go with an additional 654 days (to be served consecutively) for termination of current post-release control, for convictions of amended charges of attempted retaliation and attempted tampering with evidence, as well as single counts of assault and aggravated menacing. One count of retaliation was dismissed. Vasquez received 185 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. Upon release, Vasquez will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated April 27.
- Kevin Coffman, 40, of Ashland, was sentenced to 180 days in jail/a community-based correctional facility substance abuse program for a conviction of aggravated possession of drugs. Coffman received 85 days of jail credit and also faces a $250 fine, plus court costs. Upon release, Coffman will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction if prison is imposed. Coffman also received two years of community control, with reserved prison time of six to 12 months if community control is violated. The case originated June 18.
- Montell Taylor, 24, of Loudonville, was sentenced to two, concurrent six-month prison sentences for convictions of aggravated possession of methamphetamine and possession of cocaine. Taylor received 80 days of jail credit and also faces court costs. Upon release, Taylor will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction.
- In a separate case, Taylor received an additional six-month sentence, to be served consecutively to the sentence in the case listed above, for a conviction of harassment with a bodily substance. Taylor received no jail credit in this case and also faces court costs. Upon release, Taylor will face an optional two-year post-release control sanction. The case originated Aug. 11.
