Firman
A Deshler man who was escape incarceration has been sentenced.
Justin Firman, 36, appeared Thursday in the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Joel Kuhlman.
Firman was indicted on March 3, 2022, for abduction, a third-degree felony, and domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor.
He was sentenced in January to three years on community control with 90 days in jail followed by completion of the SEARCH program at the NorthWest Community Corrections Center.
Kuhlman reserved sentences of six-18 months for the abduction and 180 days for domestic violence.
On June 1, Firman and another man jumped the fence and escaped from the center, located at 1740 E. Gypsy Lane Road.
They were apprehended in Fostoria on June 2.
Firman and Dakota Embry, 24, of Bryan, were charged with escape and transported to the Wood County Justice Center.
Five hours later, Embry was found deceased in his cell.
Firman pleaded guilty to escape, a third-degree felony, on Oct. 19.
Wood County Prosecutor Morgan Spitler requested 24 months for the escape charge and asked that it be served consecutive to the prior reserved sentences.
Defense attorney Steve Spitler said prior to the 2022 case, his client had no felony offenses.
He said his client had received a letter from a woman he knew that she was going to kill herself.
“He wanted out to go to her,” Steve Spitler said. “It was stupid, it was impulsive.”
Firman has served 302 days in jail and during that time has worked in the kitchen and completed a 12-step program, he said.
“He was doing all the right things other than that impulsive (act) when he wanted to get out and help her,” Steve Spitler said.
Firman said he signed up for the military to give back to this country. At some point, he lost sight of why he has the freedoms he has.
“I lost all sense of rational thought. I didn’t want to lose another person to drugs,” he said.
His mother, sister and grandmother all died due to drugs, he said.
Kuhlman said Firman didn’t obey the no contact order that was put in place after the domestic violence accusation. In fact, the protected person assisted Firman in the escape.
Kuhlman said community control was no longer an option in either case.
For the abduction and domestic violence charges, Kuhlman imposed sentences of 18 months and 180 days, respectively.
He also imposed a sentence of 18 months for the escape.
The 180 days will be served concurrently to the other sentences, which will be served consecutively for a total of 36 months.
Firman will be given credit for time served.
