Leyshon gets 3-year sentence

By Jane Beathard

Staff Writer

 

A London man will spend the next 3.5 years in prison for a variety of offenses involving drugs and a gun.

Dylan Leyshon, 19, 142 N. Main St., pleaded guilty in Madison County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday to selling cocaine on Dec. 12 and Dec. 15, 2011; possessing a stolen handgun on Oct. 4, 2011 and using cocaine on March 30, 2012.

Additional drug trafficking and tampering with evidence charges were dismissed as part of a plea bargain.

Leyshon was arrested in December on the drug trafficking and receiving stolen property charges during a sweep by local authorities of suspected dealers in the area. April’s grand jury session added additional indictments for cocaine possession and tampering with evidence.

On Tuesday, the court bundled all cases against Leyshon and put a seal of approval on the plea bargain and the 3.5-year prison sentence. Leyshon was facing a maximum of 5.5 years behind bars, as well as $12,500 in fines.

Prior to sentencing, Leyshon apologized to his family for his actions. Defense attorney Joe Landusky said his client has a good heart, but got involved with the wrong people.

In other common pleas court action this week:

• Jerome A. Murray, 30, 2072 Arway Drive, Hilliard, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary involving a firearm on Dec. 9, 2011. One break-in was at a Bonner Road residence; the other was at the Greene County home of a retired common pleas judge.

Murray faces at least four years behind bars, as well as $30,000 in fines, for the convictions.

Nichols ordered a pre-sentence investigation in the case and set sentencing for June 15.

Murray’s co-defendant, Preston W. Fravel, 26, of 3412 Trabue Road, Columbus, pleaded guilty to similar charges on April 2 and is awaiting a May 25 sentencing hearing.

• Jason T. Young, 35, 769 U.S. Route 42, Lot 5, London, pleaded guilty to two counts of gross sexual imposition involving a girl younger than 13. The incidents occurred between Nov. 5, 2011 and Jan. 25, 2012. Additional counts were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Judge Robert D. Nichols ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for June 15.

Young faces up to 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines for the convictions. However, he’s also eligible for community control.

• Traci L. Utley, 31, 205 W. Xenia Drive, Fairborn, was sentenced to nine months in prison for smuggling marijuana to a Madison Correctional Institution (MaCI) inmate on Nov. 10, 2011.

Nichols allowed Utley 14 days to update her medications prior to the start of her prison time.

• John D. Morgan, 25, formerly of 106 Washington St., West Jefferson, was sentenced to four years in prison for burglarizing a village-area home on Sept. 29, 2011.

Nichols ordered the prison time to run concurrent with 17 months Morgan is already serving for receiving stolen property in Madison County last year.

• Tasha L. Colwell, 36, 92 S. Madison Road, London, pleaded guilty to a vehicular assault charge, stemming from a Jan. 20 auto accident. An additional count of leaving the scene of an accident was dismissed.

Colwell faces up to 18 months in prison for the conviction. Nichols ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for June 15.

• Patrick Kennedy, 48, an inmate at MaCI, was sentenced to two additional years in prison for possessing a deadly weapon on Jan. 11. Kennedy is currently serving 15 years for a 2000 rape in Lucas County.

• Robert A.M. Humphrey, 20, also an MaCI inmate, was sentenced to an extra year in prison for possessing a deadly weapon on March 31, 2011. Humphrey is currently serving 36 months for a 2011 burglary in Franklin County.