A Lemoyne man who reportedly missed nearly a dozen appointments with the adult probation department is going to prison.
Tyler Bunce, 28, appeared Monday in the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Molly Mack.
He was indicted it August for trafficking in cocaine, possession of cocaine, trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, all fourth-degree felonies.
On April 5, 2023, he was found in possession between 5 and 10 grams of cocaine and between 1 and 5 grams of fentanyl.
Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to the two possession charges.
“He has for years struggled with drugs,” said defense attorney Richard Kerger.
Kerger said Bunce was at Team Recovery for 30 days and then transitioned into sober living.
He asked Mack to give Bunce a shot and if he failed, send him to jail.
Bunce said he learned a lot about himself at Team Recovery and asked for a chance.
Adult probation did not know where he was as he failed to sign the necessary paperwork when he entered Team Recovery, Mack said.
He also didn’t show up for the presentence investigation, she said, and he failed to appear for 10 random drug screens.
Bunce said he was in a lock-down facility and never received a phone call.
The court reached out to your attorney, who also didn’t know where you were, and you failed to appear for pending legal matters in Lucas County Common Pleas Court, Mack said to Bunce.
According to court documents, a statewide warrant was issued for Bunce in September when he failed to appear for his arraignment; he was arrested Nov. 29 and released on a personal recognizance bond.
Another statewide warrant was issued in March and bond was revoked after it was learned Bunce was arrested in Toledo and charged with having weapons while under disability, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and possession of drugs.
After he entered a plea in the Wood County case in April, bond was again set as a personal recognizance. He consequently failed to appear for random drug testing.
Mack said Bunce opted not to enter the Correctional Treatment Facility when given the opportunity in Lucas County.
Community control, while assumed for F4 felonies, would be demeaning given the circumstances, she said.
She imposed 12 months sentences for each of the two possession charges, to be served concurrently.
The trafficking charges were dismissed.
Bunce also must forfeit $980 to the Lake Township Police Department.
