Leesburg man sentenced for receiving stolen property

0

A Leesburg man who testified against a co-defendant in a recent trial was sentenced to 11 months in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to receiving stolen property and failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer.

Richie Penn, 43, testified as a state’s witness against Andy Munyon, 34, Greenfield, during a jury trial last month.

As previously reported by The Times-Gazette, several witnesses testified during the trial that Penn came into possession of a stolen truck, and, after painting it and changing its registration, fled from law enforcement with Munyon in the truck after Sgt. Craig Seaman of the Highland County Sheriff’s Office attempted a traffic stop.

Penn testified that he gave Munyon a chance to get out of the car before the chase began, but that Munyon buckled his seat belt and told him to drive faster. The incident occurred in January of this year.

The jury found Munyon guilty of complicity to Penn’s charges, and he was sentenced to 11 months in prison, as reported earlier this month by The Times-Gazette.

During his hearing Thursday, Penn asked Judge Rocky Coss for four or five days to take care of personal matters, but Coss said since Penn had already met bail and been out of jail for some time, he already had plenty of opportunities to get his affairs in order. Penn was taken into custody in the courtroom.

Also Thursday, Robert Anderson, 40, Lynchburg, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to three of eight felony forgery charges related to checks. The other charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement.

Coss ordered Anderson to pay approximately $4,000 in restitution to Corner Market and Community Market.

Anderson said in court there are criminal cases against him in Clinton, Warren, Greene and Adams counties, and he is currently serving a prison sentence in Brown County for grand theft.

Coss ordered Anderson’s sentence in the Highland County case to be served consecutive to his current sentence, which is set to expire in January of next year, according to Anderson.

Coss described Anderson as a “professional thief” after Highland County Prosecuting Attorney Anneka Collins said it is believed Anderson typed and printed his own forged checks.

“This is more than just a run-of-the-mill operation,” Coss said, saying that Anderson’s crimes were executed with a “high level of sophistication.”

In other cases Thursday:

• Adam Willey, 20, Hillsboro, was sentenced to three years in prison after admitting to violating his community control sanctions. Coss noted during the hearing that Willey was originally sentenced to three years of community control sanctions in March 2016 after he was convicted of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony. Willey is a Tier II sex offender.

• Stephen Weil, 31, Hillsboro, was sentenced to 16 months in prison after admitting to community control violations. Coss said Weil was initially sentenced to three years of community control sanctions in August 2015 for trafficking and heroin possession charges.

• Nikki Ralph, 31, Greenfield, was sentenced to six months in prison after pleading guilty to heroin trafficking, a fifth-degree felony. A heroin possession charge was dropped as part of a plea agreement.

• Melvin McKenzie, 38, Hillsboro, received a one-year extension of community control sanctions after admitting to a violation. Coss said McKenzie was sentenced to community control after being found guilty of aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony. Coss also ordered McKenzie to successfully complete an arranged drug treatment program.

• Brian Mock, 19, Lynchburg, was sentenced to three years of community control sanctions and ordered to complete a drug treatment program after pleading guilty to possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony.

• Kenneth Dunaway, 44, Waverly, was sentenced to three years of community control sanctions and ordered to complete a drug treatment program after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.

• Chase Holsinger, 23, Leesburg, was granted intervention in lieu of conviction after pleading guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

Reach David Wright at 937-402-2570, or on Twitter @DavidWrighter.

Richie Penn, right, stands in court alongside defense attorney J.D. Wagoner during a hearing Thursday.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2017/05/web1_penncourt.jpgRichie Penn, right, stands in court alongside defense attorney J.D. Wagoner during a hearing Thursday. David Wright | The Times-Gazette
Coss denies request for time before reporting

By David Wright

[email protected]

No posts to display