Heroin dealer with lengthy record gets prison term

A local man with a "serious drug problem" who sold heroin has received a one-year prison sentence.
Cary Ashby
Oct 4, 2012


A Willard man who sold heroin was sentenced to one year in prison Wednesday.

However, Joseph P. Hersha, 34, of 2394 Egypt Road, could be released after serving 80 percent of his term if he participates in the prison system's substance abuse program.

"I think it would be good for you to get immediate treatment," Huron County Common Pleas Judge Jim Conway told him.

Citing the seriousness of heroin-related crimes in the county, Conway noted that Hersha has been on probation many times.

"As much as 20 times," the judge said.

Huron County Prosecutor Russell Leffler had recommended Hersha spend four to six months in a community-based corrections facility (CBCF), a form of prison which focuses on substance abuse treatment and education.

"He's got a serious drug problem and is willing to do something about it," Leffler said.

In August, Hersha pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in heroin in exchange for the state dropping a charge of selling prescription pills. The heroin charge is for a Jan. 2 incident.

Hersha has been in the Huron County Jail for more than 2 1/2 months, which the judge credited toward his prison term. Hersha, who has been to prison earlier, had his driver's license suspended for six months. He also must pay $80 in restitution to the Huron County Sheriff's Office to cover the cost of drug testing.





Twenty times on probation and he gets a year of prison time for attempting to traffic AND his sentence reduced if he performs well in CBCF which is a program for abuse and treatment because of the seriousness of heroin crimes in the area? maybe send him to prison or kick him out of the state at this point. I'm in the wrong business.

Yall Make Me Sick

What's kicking him out of state gonna do? That's not a problem solver. The judge needs to make him responsible for his actions instead of slapping him on the hand. Sounds like the judge needs his license taken away so he can stop being so kind to all these drug dealers.

Raziels Wings

the courts know they cant help these people .

Raziels Wings

they are powerless to help them.

Brock Lee

why have courts then

swiss family

another sickening light sentence worked out between Leffler and Conway.. and the community loses again...This is really insane... Why do we go through the time energy and expense to investigate , follow up, watch them catch them and convict them, just to have their original charge reduced and then given a "wussy" sentence???? I don't know about anyone else but I get tired of seeing our powerful Judicial system, well precisely Leffler and Conway let these criminals off so easy.. I am anxiously awaiting the sentencing of the guy who chased the school girl across town and circled her several times, and as she was locking her bike up at St. Paul's he grabbed her butt..I am pretty sure that although this guy is on probation that he already violated years ago, and at this point is spending more time in Jail than he is being free, and when he is in jail, he is out of control, and poured water on another inmates mattress, and got into multiple fights with other criminals..he seems to walk away unscathed... he will tell you , if asked that he doesn't see anything wrong with breaking into someone's home or car, and he gets confused between the real difference between borrowing and stealing.. he will easily tell you that he can NOT control his sexual actions when he sees a girl in a skirt or dress..but someone competent needs to ask him in front of the Judge.. or better yet, the Judge needs to ask him about this, so he is punished the way he should have been punished years ago...I hope that someone stops this before we have a serial rapist on our hands here in Town.. because he will admit that is where he is heading if someone doesn't actually punish him for what he is doing..