Reynolds sentenced to 13 days jail
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A Vienna man will be spending the next 13 days in jail after setting fire to a trash can at Marietta Memorial Hospital in August.
Robert Lynn Reynolds, 58, of 1437 20th St., Vienna, was sentenced Friday morning in Washington County Common Pleas Court to 20 days in jail, with seven days credit for time served He also received two years community control.
He was indicted in September on one count of attempted aggravated arson, a third-degree felony, and disrupting public services, a fourth-degree felony.
Reynolds pleaded guilty Oct. 23 to the second count, while the first was dismissed.
After his indictment, Washington County Prosecutor Nicole Coil said Reynolds was high on methamphetamine when he set a trash can on fire in the emergency room at the hospital on Aug. 28. No damage was done to the structure, but he was charged with disrupting public services as hospital employees had to leave their posts due to smoke.
The fourth-degree felony carried a possible maximum of 18 months in prison.
Washington County Assistant Prosecutor Jim Schneider said the plea agreement was two years of community control, but he was requesting 90 days in jail.
Defense attorney Rolf Baumgartel said Reynolds was "dealing with some drug issues and some mental health issues" along with physical issues.
"I don't see how jail will take care of the issues," he said.
He said it started as attempted arson but the act was attention seeking.
"Jail is premature and 90 days is excessive," Baumgartel said.
Reynolds told Washington County Common Pleas Judge John Halliday he's been going to counseling for his issues.
Since he was last in court, he said he has been clean. He told the court he's in a better state of mind since he stopped using methamphetamine, which he called the "Devil's drug."
He apologized and said he didn't do anything on purpose.
"I'm sorry for being here and I'm sorry for taking you guy's time," Reynolds said.
Halliday said it wasn't a waste of time because it impacted his near future and his potential liberty.
As Reynolds lives in Wood County, Halliday said there was a good possibility of Reynolds having his community control transferred to the Wood County Probation Office.
Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.