EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was submitted via a press release by Crawford County Prosecutor Matthew E. Crall.
BUCYRUS — A Bucyrus man could be sentenced up to 94 years in prison after being convicted on nine felony drug counts, according to a press release issued Monday by Crawford County prosecutor Matthew E. Crall.
Brian Phillip Caldwell was convicted of the following charges after a two-day trial:
Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (METH) F1 11-16.5 years prison.
Illegal Manufacture of Drugs (METH) F2 8-12 years prison.
Aggravated Trafficking Drugs (METH) F3 36 months.
Aggravated Trafficking Drugs (METH) F3 36 months.
Aggravated Trafficking Drugs (METH) F2 8-12 years prison.
Aggravated Trafficking Drugs (METH) F2 8-12 years prison.
Aggravated Trafficking Drugs (METH) F1 11-16.5 years prison.
Aggravated Trafficking Drugs (METH) F1 11-16.5 years prison.
Aggravated Trafficking Drugs (METH) F3 36 months.
In total, Caldwell could face a maximum sentence of 66 to 94.5 years in prison.
“Mr. Caldwell will be spending a long time in prison,” Crall said. “We hope his sentence will send a strong message to those who bring methamphetamines into our county: It doesn’t pay!”
The case was presided over by Judge Sean Leuthold, and was heard by a Crawford County jury consisting of nine women and three men.
The charges stemmed from a traffic stop.
According to Crall, on Feb. 4, 2024, Crawford County Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Kissling stopped a 2006 Toyota driven by Caldwell.
Deputy Benjamin Petrie, using his dog Nora ultimately found approximately 224.29 grams of Methamphetamine.
Additional investigation by the Sheriff’s Office resulted in the additional trafficking charges. The Mansfield City Police Lab assisted in the matter.
“Assistant Prosecutor Dan Stanley did an outstanding job working with the Sheriff’s Office to investigate the matter,” Crall said. “He then presented that information to the jury.
“Because of this hard work and this collaboration, we succeeded in preventing this large quantity of Methamphetamines from reaching its intended audience.”
Major Chad Filliater, Lt. Detective Craig Moser, Detective Tyler Winkelman, and Officer Dave Rowland (all from the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office) testified during the trial.
The defendant will be sentenced at a later date by Judge Leuthold.