London woman sentenced in vehicular assault

By Haley Phillippi

For The Madison Press

A London woman was sentenced to one year in prison for a vehicular assault charge, stemming from a Jan. 20 car accident.

Tasha L. Colwell, 36, 92 S. Madison Road, London, pleaded guilty on May 1 to vehicular assault, a felony of the fourth degree.

Colwell has three previous OVI’s. Madison County Common Pleas Judge Robert D. Nichols, stated that Colwell has “significant history that shows an ongoing problem.”

The victim suffered physical harm from the auto accident. The victim’s sister read a statement aloud in the courtroom.

“It’s been seven months and he still continues to suffer pain in his arm,” she said. The victim continues to take medication and suffers from bladder problems. The sister asked that Colwell received the maximum sentence.

The defendant stated how awful she feels and how she wishes she could switch places with the victim.

“I didn’t know it was him,” Colwell said. “I thought it was a trash can.”

Nichols told Colwell, “You can’t change the circumstances. You can’t substitute yourself for him.”

Colwell’s attorney, James Stempien, said that she is a single mother to a 3-year-old. Her lawyer requested that she have 30 days to get her affairs in order before she reports for prison.

In other common pleas court action Aug. 10:

• Donald L. Drummond, 38, 654 S. Sylvan Ave., Columbus, was arraigned on one count of domestic violence and one count of felonious assault causing physical harm to a family member.

Nichols appointed attorney Robert Bannerman to represent Drummond at a Sept. 20 trial. The man remains in Tri-County Regional jail under a $7,500 surety bond.

• Cheveldes W. Chavis, 34, 2248 Perkins Court, Columbus, was arraigned on three separate counts: one count of breaking and entering on June 21, one count of theft and one count of possession of criminal tools.

Chavis remains in jail on a $2,500 surety bond. His formal pre-trial will be held Sept. 20.

• Donald A. Rhoads, 57, and Matthew A. Rhoads, 27, formerly of 7211 West Jefferson-Kiousville Road, were both recently charged with 104 counts of multiple thefts, receiving stolen property, and possession of criminal tools.

Attorney Brian Joslyn told Nichols that the decision whether or not the defendants will plead guilty will be decided by their trial date on Aug. 28.

• Corey M. Rice, 27, 68 S. Main St., London, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for selling drugs. Rice entered a guilty plea on May 18.

His attorney Joe Landusky filed a motion to withdraw the plea.

Sonya Davis, Rice’s mother-in-law, was called to the stand to testify as well as the London police officer involved in the case.

Rice was arrested in December, following an undercover investigation of London drug dealers.

• Bruce E. Hamilton, 40, 3304 Hilock Place, Columbus, was sentenced to one year in prison for breaking and entering as well as inducing panic.

He entered a guilty plea on Aug. 10 with an agreed sentence of one year. Hamilton was involved in the robbery of Sedalia’s First Community Bank last summer.