Defendants request prison time over community control

Two Highland County residents had their community control revoked Thursday in Highland County Common Pleas Court after they requested they be allowed to serve the remainder of their prison time.

Eran Johnson, of Hillsboro, appeared in court Thursday on alleged violations of her community control sanctions.

The state, represented by Assistant Highland County Prosecutor Molly Bolek, read the alleged violations to the court, which included allegations of drug use, and facing a theft charge in Hillsboro Municipal Court.

Defense attorney Lee Koolger, after conferring with his client, told Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss, "I believe I can save us from a lot of posturing. She wants to be terminated from community control and wants to be sent back to the institution."

Bolek said that according to officers with the Highland County Adult Probation Authority, similar statements had been previously been made to them.

Coss said to Johnson, "You have had a number of opportunities, and it is unfortunate you didn't take advantage of them. The court finds you have failed to respond favorably to community control, and you are not compliance with the requirements."

The court terminated Johnson's community control and she was sentenced to 11 months in the Ohio Reformatory for Women. Johnson, who appeared in the custody of the Highland County Sheriff's Office, was given 202 days of jail time credit.

Johson had initially been placed on community in 2011 after she pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree felony charge of aggravated possession of methamphetamine.

In a separate case Thursday, Donnie Jenkins, of Bainbridge, appeared before Coss on allegations he violated his community control.

Defense attorney J.D. Wagoner said that Jenkins was willing to admit to the allegations against him.

"With all due respect, your honor, he wants to go ahead and serve his the days (in prison)," Wagoner said.

Coss found that Jenkins had not been amenable to community control, and he sentenced him to serve 11 months in prison.

Jenkins was placed on community control in 2009 after he pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree felony charge of non-support of dependents.