Thursday, December 21st, 2017
Ex-Celina man is sentenced for string of thefts from retailers
By Ed Gebert
CELINA - A former Celina man was sentenced on Wednesday to 33 months in prison after having been convicted on charges related to several thefts from local retailers.
Frederick L. Hale Jr., 49, formerly of Karafit Road, was sentenced in Mercer County Common Pleas Court to three consecutive 11-month prison sentences on charges from two separate cases.
Hale pleaded guilty in August to two counts of fifth-degree felony theft, according to court records. Law enforcement officials believed he was part of a multi-county theft ring, according to Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey's news release at the time.
Before he was sentenced on those theft charges, Hale was arrested again and charged with other felonies. In October, Hale accepted a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to theft, breaking and entering and possessing criminal tools, each a fifth-degree felony.
At Wednesday's sentencing, Hale's attorney, David Bruns, said his client had committed the crimes when he had reached a low point in his life, having lost the love of his life.
Hale said he wanted to take advantage of local psychological resources such as Foundations Counseling, Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous rather than return to prison. He apologized at length for his crimes and said he wanted to improve his relationships with children, grandchildren and other family members.
Judge Jeffrey Ingraham praised Hale's recent efforts, saying, "What you have done is put before the court that actions speak louder than words."
"Unfortunately, recently, you took some actions. You stole what you stole at Walmart after you were already before this court for sentencing for breaking and entering," Ingraham said.
If Hale had not committed the later crimes, he could have received just community control sanctions, the judge added.
"But then when you go out and commit this theft offense, that kind of tells me that those actions mean that the court sentence you to prison," Ingraham said. "Therefore the court is going to do that."
He was given 142 days credit given for time already served. His prison time will be served as risk-reduction time to allow Hale to take better advantage of any rehabilitation programs at the prison. He must also serve 11 months on community control.
"Your criminal history dates back before this judge was even on the bench," Ingraham said, looking at Hale's criminal file.
According to evidence put forth from law enforcement, Hale had been involved in the theft of kayaks from Walmart in August; miscellaneous items from Tractor Supply Co.; coolers, chairs and box fans from a Dollar General Store and had committed a 2015 breaking and entering at Zuma Thru near Montezuma.
