Judge STUNNED by 19-Year-Old's 18 Juvenile Charges—Then Sends Him to Prison

[00:00:00]Mr. How many times have you stood before a judge and uttered those words?

[00:00:04]>> Once.

[00:00:04]>> Never.

[00:00:05]>> I find that hard to believe looking at your prior record. 18 prior adjudications as a juvenile. For a 19year-old to have that many adjudications as a juvenile and then as soon as you turn uh 18 and become an adult, you are immediately in my court on two separate indictments. Two separate felony indictments. These are case numbers 25 CR42968.

[00:00:28]25 CR42977 the state of Ohio versus Darren Oldm.

[00:00:33]Mr. ODM is present in court with his council, Mr. Brener, Miss Tranter on behalf of the state of Ohio. We're here for sentencing. Uh there was a pre-sentence investigation that was prepared as everyone had an opportunity to review that.

[00:00:44]>> Yes, your honor.

[00:00:45]>> Yes, your honor. Uh anything on behalf of the state?

[00:00:48]>> Your honor, the only thing that I have we will defer to the court as far as sentencing goes. Um uh the only thing I would request is that uh Mr. Oldham be uh given a lifetime driving driver's license suspension. He does have two prior fail to complies on his record as a juvenile. While we do acknowledge it would be a class two as opposed to a class one suspension, it still gives the court an option to have a lifetime suspension. And I believe at this point um that is uh justified in Mr. Oldham's case. So, we would be asking for that as well as um forfeite of the firearm in the uh 977 case.

[00:01:32]>> Anything from probation?

[00:01:33]>> Nothing further, your honor.

[00:01:35]>> 19 years old, 18 juvenile adjudications.

[00:01:39]Two separate felony indictments waiting the moment he became an adult. This isn't a courtroom hearing about one bad decision. It's a judge deciding whether years of repeated chances have finally run out. The defense argues that Darren Oldm is a young man capable of turning his life around, pointing to family support, education goals, and a desire to change. But the prosecution believes his history speaks louder than his promises, even asking for a lifetime driver's license suspension because of repeated failure to comply offenses. As this sentencing unfolds, watch closely because the judge isn't just weighing today's crimes. He's examining an entire pattern of behavior. Do you think someone this young deserves one last opportunity or has the justice system already been more than patient enough?

[00:02:28]Let's see how this dramatic sentencing unfolds.

[00:02:31]>> Mr. Brener, >> thank you. Your honor, I know we had some conversations back in chambers. I know we've had conversations previously on this case as well. Uh I know Mr. Oldm and his family pretty well at this point. I represented him as a juvenile here in Warren County. Um I know obviously his juvenile record, no way to sugar coat, is atrocious. Uh he is still just 19 years old. He is four credits shy of graduating high school. He's indicated that he should be able to get that finished up in the next couple of months. That's a goal of his. He wants to be a businessman, your honor. And I I will say I think this is a situation where unfortunately he faced zero consequences as a juvenile and I think that led him to continue those bad decisions after turning the age of 18.

[00:03:15]Um, I can say based on my conversations with him and interactions with his family, I believe I think 92 days is the jail time credit total. I think that those 92 days were a wakeup call for Mr. Holden. That's by far the most time he's ever been incarcerated. Uh, following that, he was on a a GPS monitor from November of 25 until May the 14th of this year. And your honor, while he was arrested in Green County, my understanding, first that case was dismissed, and my understanding is that warrant was from January 26 and the offense itself predated [snorts] either of these incidents. Um, I I would ask the court uh to consider placing Mr. Oldm on a maximum period of community control with a significant amount of suspended time to give him the opportunity to show the court the kind of person that he is. Obviously, um again, we have a number of of prior adjudications and then here we are in adult court, but he is still just 19 years old. He turns 20 in November. Um I know he's an intelligent young man. He's a thoughtful young man and I think unfortunately he has again been with the wrong crowd and made bad decisions that which isn't to escape accountability. Uh he's here because he entered please on both of these case numbers. Um but I did want to just kind of address that with the court. the fact that, you know, I know both he and his brother uh have been in trouble and I think again I think it was a product of the environment more than anything because I know his mother uh and his mother is not the kind of person uh who would I guess allow her children to get into trouble if it were up to her. Uh I know we had some discussions back in chambers. I wanted to clarify his mother in fact uh her husband's in the Air Force. She moved to Colorado and the my understanding is the intention is to relocate there for you know an ongoing period. I've spoken with Jon. I think it'd probably be a good idea if he moved out there at some point uh to get away from the the environment in Montgomery County. Um with that being said, your honor, again, 92 days jail time credit and I'd ask the court to consider a suspended sentence. I know we had a joint recommended um recommendation of of probation in this case.

[00:05:27]>> Mr. Anything you'd like me to know before I sentence you?

[00:05:31]Yeah, your honor, I'm just I just want you to know that I'm good at taking self accountability in the things I do and I understand I was wrong and it won't happen again.

[00:05:42]>> Mr. How many times have you stood before a judge and uttered those words?

[00:05:48]>> Once.

[00:05:49]>> Never.

[00:05:50]>> Never.

[00:05:50]>> I find that hard to believe looking at your prior record. Uh, you have 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 uh 18 prior adjudications as a juvenile.

[00:06:11]Uh, and we're talking pretty serious offenses here. We're talking uh felony receiving stolen property, uh several obstructions, a breaking and entering, uh carrying a concealed weapon, another breaking and entering, a grand theft, theft of motor vehicle, a burglary, another breaking and entering, uh two failure to complies, which is the offense you're in front of V4. Uh another grand theft of an auto. Uh felony receiving stolen property. Uh, and then there's a yet is that a third um fail to comply.

[00:06:45]Uh, h how how do you explain that? I mean, and and then I and then I look and see what the court has done for you. Uh, suspended commitment, suspended commitment, suspended commitment. Um, it doesn't seem that you've learned anything from your prior experience, extensive experience with the court system. Explain that to me.

[00:07:06]All right, take your time.

[00:07:12]>> I just feel like it was a eye opener what all this time I got over my head and the felonies that could be stuck on me for a long time.

[00:07:22]for a 19year-old to have that many adjudications as a juvenile and then as soon as you turn uh 18 and become an adult, you are immediately in my court on two separate indictments. Two separate felony indictments, right?

[00:07:39]Uh Mr. ODM, I got to tell you, um uh here in this in Warren County, uh we take this very seriously. Uh running from the police is unacceptable.

[00:07:49]Period. We had a deputy that was killed a few years ago because someone ran from the police and struck the struck the deputy. So, uh, at this time, uh, the court is going to make a finding. Well, first off, uh, I'm going to consider consider the pre-sentence investigation, the purposes, and the principles of sentencing, irrelevant, seriousness, and recidivism factors. Uh I am going to find today that you are not amendable to community control and that prison is necessary to fulfill the purposes and the principles of sentence including punishment, deterrence and protection of the public. Number one, community control um would not adequately punish you and would seriously demean the seriousness of this case. Um prison is necessary due to your extensive extensive criminal history. So on case number uh 42 uh 42968 which is the failure to comply the first case the court is going to order you to serve 12 months in prison on the failure to comply count and 12 months in prison on the receiving stolen property. By law those are required to be served consecutive to each other.

[00:09:02]um your license is suspended uh for your lifetime at this point in time on that case. Court finds that you're indigent for the purpose of any fines, cost, or other financial sanctions. You have 92 days jail time credit on that case.

[00:09:16]Under case number 42977, the court's going to order you to serve uh 12 months in prison on that felony. Uh 180 days in the Warren County Jail on the misdemeanor that to be served concurrent with the felony. that case to be served concurrent with case number 42968.

[00:09:33]Court again will find that you're indigent on that case. Uh the cang gun is ordered to be forfeited.

[00:09:40]Uh now you're also subject to a discretionary period of postrelease. Is it discretionary on the F4?

[00:09:46]>> Discretionary? Yes.

[00:09:47]>> Which means upon your release from prison, the adult parole authority may supervise you for up to two years. If you violate that supervision, you can be returned to prison for up to one half of this court's original sentence. If your violation is that you commit another felony, you can be returned to prison for one year or the period that you have left on PRC, whichever is longer. That time would run consecutive to any additional prison time that you get sentenced to. Now, there may be opportunities for you to receive up to one day per month for participating in certain education, vocation, or other programs sponsored by the Department of Corrections. You do have a right to appeal the court's decision of your sentence to the 12th District Court of Appeals. If you want to appeal, you must file your notice of appeal within 30 days of today's date. If you can't afford to pay for the transcript or anything necessary for your appeal, including an attorney, uh that can all be provided to you at no cost. Now, one more thing. I want to get your attention, sir. You understand what I'm saying? I don't think whatever has happened to you in this in the justice system before this has done you any good at all. So, I'm trying to get your attention now. I will consider a motion for judicial release after you've served six months in prison and put you on community control. Now, condition of that is that I will not consider it if you go up to the institution and you get involved with the gang or you start breaking the the rules of the institution. I'm just going to say no and you'll serve out your time. But I want to give you an opportunity. I want to reach out and help you. But you're not getting the message so far, but I do I do want to still give you that hope that I plan on doing this down the road.

[00:11:19]Do you understand? Do you have any questions for me? All right. There's a deputy standing directly behind you at this time. You are remanded into the custody of the Warren County Sheriff's Office for transport through the Department of Corrections.

[00:11:46]>> This sentencing highlights one of the toughest questions any judge faces. When should rehabilitation give way to punishment? Despite the defense emphasizing Darren Oldm's youth, difficult environment, and willingness to accept responsibility, the court ultimately concluded that his extensive juvenile record, repeated failure to comply offenses, and immediate return to felony conduct after turning 18 demonstrated that community control was no longer appropriate. The judge imposed prison time, a lifetime driver's license suspension, and firearm forfeite while still leaving the door open for possible judicial release after 6 months.

[00:12:24]Provided follows prison rules and shows genuine rehabilitation. That final message was clear. Accountability comes first, but redemption remains possible if it's earned through actions rather than promises. What do you think about the judge's decision? Was this sentence fair, too harsh, or exactly what was needed? Share your opinion in the comments below. And if you found this case as shocking as we did, make sure to hit that like button, subscribe to the channel, and share this video with others who enjoy real courtroom breakdowns. We'll see you in the next