Cider Mill burglar accomplice gets prison sentence

An accomplice in the break-in of a Willard convenience store who also was convicted of possession of heroin was sentenced to prison Monday.Jonathan M. Hamilton, 25, of 121 W. Central Ave., Willard, first pleaded guilty to one count each of breaking and entering and tampering with evidence. Those convictions are for the Nov. 2 break-in at Myers Cider Mill Drive Thru, which is located on Ohio 103 in Willard.Hamilton also was convicted of a separate charge of possession of heroin.As part of Monday's plea deal, prosecutors dismissed a theft charge in connection with the Cider Mill crime in which he and two other accomplices stole some cigarettes. Hamilton must reimburse the state Highway Patrol $35 for drug testing. He and his co-defendants must reimburse Cider Mill $2,000 upon their convictions.Shortly after the break-in, a neighbor saw Hamilton and former Willard resident Donald L. Carr III, 26, burning clothes and some cigarette cartons, Huron County Assistant Prosecutor Richard Woodruff said.Hamilton received an 11-month prison term each for the heroin and break-in charges. He also was sentenced to 24 months for tampering with evidence. Huron County Common Pleas Judge Jim Conway followed the joint recommendation of Woodruff and Huron County Public Defender David Longo, but ran the 11-month sentences with the two-year term.Woodruff said the state isn't opposed to Hamilton being released early from prison and being transferred into a community-based corrections facility. Defendants spend four to six months in a CBCF, a form of prison which focuses on substance abuse treatment and education.The Huron County Sheriff's Office investigated the break-in. Deputies responded to an alarm activation at 1:51 a.m. Nov. 2. Based on surveillance footage, they determined some items were missing.On the afternoon of Nov. 4, deputies located Carr driving a vehicle on Ohio 61 in New Haven Township and arrested him. Hamilton was his passenger."Some of the merchandise was found inside the vehicle and drug abuse instruments," Detective Sgt. Josh Querin said shortly after their arrests. "(Carr) was out on parole from previous felony convictions."Carr goes to trial Jan. 28 on one count each of breaking and entering, tampering with evidence and theft. He has been unable to post a $20,000 bond since his arrest. In another case, Carr is charged with burglary and breaking and entering in connection with an Oct. 23 incident.The third Cider Mill accomplice, Jason L. Muhr, 38, of 121 Central Ave., Willard, has a March 15 trial on breaking and entering and theft. He earlier posted a $25,000 bond. Deputies arrested him without incident in Willard on Nov. 11. Woodruff said Muhr had to be re-arrested recently because he wasn't at the address listed on his indictment.Hamilton