Celina man gets 14 years after drug conviction

CELINA - A Celina man who was found guilty earlier this month by a Mercer County Common Pleas Court jury of aggravated possession of drugs was sentenced to 14 years in prison Friday by visiting judge Mark O'Connor of Logan County.

Scott A. Stein, 47, will serve his sentence consecutive to another sentence from Logan County.
  In Logan County, he was sentenced to six years in prison for felonious assault and shooting into a habitation. Stein's defense attorney, Steve Chamberlain, had petitioned O'Connor for concurrent sentences.

Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Joshua Muhlenkamp sought a 20-year sentence for Stein, but Chamberlain asked for the sentences to be served concurrently.

Stein was given the mandatory 11-year prison term for first-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs. He also received three concurrent three-year sentences for three third-degree counts of having weapons under disability and three concurrent one-year sentences for three forth-degree felony receiving stolen property charges. The other sentences will be served consecutive to the sentences for aggravated possession. The cumulative 14-year sentence handed down will be served consecutive to the sentence handed down in Logan County.

O'Connor did not add prison time for a specification of being a major drug offender, but he did order the forfeiture of a 1999 Toyota Camry used by Stein in the commission of the crimes.

Stein was found guilty of possessing about 3.5 pounds of methamphetamine that he and an accomplice had brought back after a trip to Las Vegas. The drugs were discovered by Grand Lake Drug Task Force members after they received a tip that the drugs were being brought back to the area. Stein was also found to be in possession of firearms that had been stolen from a Wapakoneta man

After serving his prison sentence, Stein must serve five years of post-release control. He was given credit for 324 days already served.