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Murphy to get MonDay, sanctions
for felony
By
Bob Robinson
GREENVILLE
– “I know I need help,” said defendant Jennifer Murphy.
“I deserve everything I get. I want to make a better life for me. I got
a job…”
Which
according to her attorney, Randall Breaden, she likely no
longer has. Murphy has spent the last week and a half in Greene County
Jail on
an unrelated felony charge, and was transported to Darke County for her
sentencing in the Common Pleas Court of Judge Jonathan Hein on Sept. 30.
Murphy
pleaded guilty to one Felony 3 count of Attempted Illegal
Assembly or Possession of Chemicals for the Manufacture of Drugs
(Methamphetamine). The maximum possible prison term was three years.
Maximum
fine $10,000. A prison term is not mandatory or presumed necessary.
Based
upon Murphy’s cooperation, Darke County Prosecutor Kelly
Ormsby recommended community control sanctions to include supervised
probation,
the successful completion of the MonDay program (or similar treatment
program),
a mandatory fine of $5,000, community service and court costs.
Murphy
pleaded guilty on July 24. Following her plea, her
co-defendant, Robert Harris, changed his plea to guilty for the same
Felony 3
charge on July 30. He was sentenced to three years in prison.
Breaden
told the court Murphy has done everything asked of her by
the state and noted the Greene County charge had actually occurred
prior to her
indictment in Darke County. She was arrested on a Bench Warrant a week
and a
half ago.
“There
had been no problems at all while on pre-release
supervision. She had gotten a job but may not be employed now. Greene
County
muddied up the situation,” Breaden said.
Murphy,
often in tears, told Hein she wanted to get her mental
health back where it should be.
“They
talk about MonDay; I’d like to go where they deal with drugs
and mental health. Hopefully my job will be there when I get back. They
gave me
a chance before.”
She
spoke of years in an abusive relationship and children at an
early age. She said her ex-husband had beat her up in 2012; that she
has been
diagnosed with a bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress.
“I
just want to be given a chance to prove to everyone I’m not a
waste,” she said.
Hein
turned to the visitors in the courtroom.
“Welcome
to my world,” he said, noting the average person doesn’t
understand this. To Murphy, “Nobody in this room believes you are a
waste. Your
drug use is the waste. You earned community sanction because you
cooperated
with the state. If you don’t take advantage of it, prison is next.”
Hein
sentenced Murphy to 57 days in jail, with credit for 57 days
served. He then followed the state recommendations, adding recommended
counseling must be completed, no alcohol or drugs, random testing, 40
hours of
community service and, while in MonDay, get her GED.
Sentencing
will begin once charges in Greene County have been
resolved.
Published
courtesy of Blue Bag Media
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