One of two Toledo men accused of a rash of vehicle break-ins in 2021 has had his community control sentence extended.
John Junior Garth III, 24, appeared Thursday for a community control violation hearing in the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Joel Kuhlman.
On Dec. 16, Garth was placed on two years of community control after being found guilty of four counts theft and four counts identity fraud.
On Feb. 8, during a scheduled appointment with adult probation, his urine tested positive for amphetamines, methamphetamines, cocaine and MDMA, also known as ecstasy.
Defense attorney Christopher Lawrence admitted to the violation on behalf of his client and said Garth had been doing extremely well since that relapse.
“I’m taking my sobriety seriously,” Garth said.
Lawrence asked for a one-year extension of the community control sentence.
He said Garth realizes he will be responsible for the entire $3,061 in restitution as his co-defendant is being charged an alleged murder in Lucas County.
Kuhlman followed the state’s recommendation and extended community control for one year.
Garth and co-defendant Don Wayne Eames Jr., 21, were indicted in March 2022, for two counts petty theft, both first-degree misdemeanors; three counts theft, all fifth-degree felonies; and three counts identify fraud, all fifth-degree felonies.
On Dec. 2, 2021, the two men entered vehicles on Owens Lake Drive in Walbridge and took debit cards and either used them or attempted to use them at retail locations. They also are accused of taking cash, a $20 Adidas fanny pack, $200 Beats by Dre ear buds, $1,600 in camera equipment and a $600 Maverick Drone.
Eames and Garth were indicted again for seven counts petty theft, all first-degree misdemeanors; 10 counts theft, all fifth-degree felonies; grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous ordinance, a third-degree felony; and seven counts identity fraud, all fifth-degree felonies.
From Oct. 14 to Dec. 1 in Perrysburg Township, they allegedly entered vehicles without consent and took credit and debit cards, cash, wrapped presents, an Apple Watch, three Coach purses, Oakley sunglasses, Bulova watch, Apple MacBook, Gucci watch, Tiffany bracelet, and a Ruger SR 22 caliber pistol.
Eames has been charged with two counts murder and two counts kidnapping in Lucas County for the death of two teenage boys, whose bodied were found in a burned building.
He will be transferred from the Wood County jail to Lucas County Common Pleas Court for a pretrial on March 23. Bond has been set at $2.5 million.
