Thursday, September 28th, 2006
Problem Mercer County inmate gets prison sentence
By Margie Wuebker
A Celina man, who made several suicide attempts and scuffled repeatedly with authorities while incarcerated at the Mercer County Jail, is headed to prison.
Adam M. Hanna, 24, formerly of 8716 Hellwarth Road, showed no emotion as Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Ingraham imposed a 14-month prison sentence Wednesday afternoon.
Hanna, wearing a black helmet and black restraints that limited hand movement, had been scheduled for a final pretrial hearing. Negotiations between Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Matt Fox and defense attorney Donna Post continued much of the afternoon, with Hanna finally entering a guilty plea to an amended charge of domestic violence around 3:30 p.m.
The charge was reduced from a third- to a fourth-degree felony, with Hanna receiving credit for 145 days served. The plea vacates a trial that was to commence Oct. 12.
"Will I get out in 30 days?" he mumbled without lifting his head to look at the judge.
Ingraham explained he would be eligible to file for judicial release after serving 30 days in an Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections facility.
"You can file at that point and the court, will consider the request," the judge added.
Post spoke on her client's behalf, adding he recognizes and regrets his actions.
"He wants to get this behind him," she said as Hanna remained motionless and stared over the defense table. "He wants to move on with life and get back in contact with his children."
The charge stems from a May incident when he reportedly returned home drunk and became involved in an altercation with his wife. She reportedly sustained bruises with the violence taking place in the presence of at least one of their young children.
As a jail inmate, Hanna has caused considerable problems since his arrest in May. In addition to at least four suicide attempts, he has scuffled with law enforcement officers, broke a restraint chair on two occasions and irritated other inmates. A deputy complained of chest pain following one of the scuffles and was hospitalized overnight.
Hanna, who has a history of criminal conviction and adjudication as a delinquent, was admitted twice to Northcoast Behavioral Health Care Center in Toledo, where officials determined he was competent to stand trial.
One of those admissions came following an unsuccessful attempt to leap over a third-floor railing at the Mercer County Courthouse. The incident occurred as he was being taken back to jail following a court proceeding.
Previous suicide attempts include cutting his wrists with a blade peeled from a razor prior to another court appearance and two attempted hangings, with strips torn from his jail-issued attire and a bed sheet.
Hanna has spent much of the time since his latest return secured in a restraint chair in the jail sallyport. Three deputies/corrections officers periodically took him for walks and restroom breaks.
He was moved to a solitary cell following the court appearance to await completion of paperwork clearing transport to the ODRC Reception Center in Orient. That is expected sometime today.
