2nd Cider Mill break-in accomplice convicted

The second accomplice in the Nov. 2 break-in at Myers Cider Mill Drive Thru has been convicted.Former Willard resident Donald L. Carr III, 26, most recently of Attica, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count each of breaking and entering and attempted tampering with evidence. He also admitted to a three-count probation violation related to the same break-in.As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dismissed one count of theft and two separate felonies in connection with an Oct. 23 incident. Carr was charged with one count each of burglary and breaking and entering.Carr was convicted of stealing some money and cigarettes from Cider Mill with two co-defendants. Shortly after the Ohio 103, Willard, break-in, a neighbor saw Carr and Jonathan M. Hamilton, 25, of Willard, burning clothes and some cigarette cartons in a woman's driveway. On Dec. 21, Hamilton pleaded guilty to one count each of breaking and entering and tampering with evidence. He also was convicted of a separate charge of possession of heroin.Hamilton received an 11-month prison term for each of the heroin and break-in charges and 24 months for tampering. Huron County Common Pleas Judge Jim Conway ran the 11-month sentences with the two-year term.A third suspected co-defendant, Jason L. Muhr, 38, also of Willard, has been indicted in connection with the Cider Mill break-in. He goes to trial March 15 on one count each of breaking and entering and theft. On the afternoon of Nov. 4, Carr was arrested after Huron County sheriff's deputies located him driving a vehicle on Ohio 61 in New Haven Township. Hamilton was the passenger."Some of the merchandise was found inside the vehicle and drug abuse instruments," Detective Sgt. Josh Querin said shortly after their arrests.Carr, during Tuesday's hearing, admitted to three-count probation violation. His offenses included deputies finding two syringes under his front-passenger seat during the Nov. 4 traffic stop and Carr testing positive at the jail for cocaine, heroin, hydrocodone and another drug.Huron County Prosecutor Daivia Kasper said she plans on requesting an unspecified prison term when Carr is sentenced Jan. 28. Carr and his attorney, Tom Freeman, declined to comment during Tuesday's hearing.Since Jan. 22, 2015, Carr has been on probation for possession of cocaine. Probation officer Jason Shupe, in court, said he attempted to make several home visits, but Carr wasn't home because he was either working or "out and about." In August and September, he missed some office appointments. Shupe said about the time of a rescheduled appointment he learned Carr was a suspect in the Cider Mill case.