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Columbus man gets sentenced reduced

LISBON — A Columbus man found riding in a stolen rental car in June 2016 was sentenced to 90 days in jail for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Deshawn Lamar Lewis, 32, was found in a Hertz rental car, a 2015 Toyota Prius in the Wellsville area on June 19, 2016. He was initially charged with receiving stolen property, but agreed to a felony plea agreement reducing the charge to unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He pleaded guilty in May and was initially sentenced by Judge Scott Washam to six months in jail on the charge earlier this week.

However, Lewis and his defense attorney Richard Hura appeared before Washam on Friday so the sentence could be reconsidered. Lewis said he has already received a sanction for violating his probation because of the misdemeanor charge. He also pointed out his co-defendant, who was driving, received a lessor sentence.

In June his co-defendant James Tyree Keys, 30, Columbus, was placed on three years community control for unauthorized use of a vehicle and driving under suspension. Keys had a 2015 Toyota Prius belonging to Hertz, which had been reported stolen in Columbus and when his license was suspended on June 19, 2016.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor John Gamble noted Lewis has an extensive criminal record. Gamble also said although the two men were not caught selling heroin and cocaine the way Lewis was here with no connections to anyone in the Wellsville area, the circumstances point toward that type of activity.

Hura noted Keys has a similar record to Lewis and while reading Lewis’ presentencing investigation, he did not see any other charges for which Lewis is currently being held.

Lewis also denied any drug convictions and noted he was only the passenger of the vehicle, unaware it was stolen.

“I just want to say I sincerely apologize,” Lewis said. “I haven’t had any drug conviction. I haven’t had any run-ins with the law down here. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Washam decided to reduce the six-month sentence to 90 days and allow Lewis to be returned to Franklin County Jail to serve the time. Lewis was brought there already in custody earlier this week.

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