Team Cases > Haleigh Cummings

Croslin denied reduction in drug sentence

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goinsfl:
 October 5, 2010


A key figure in the Haleigh Cummings case lost his bid Monday for a reduced sentence on oxycodone trafficking charges.

Hank "Tommy" Croslin Jr. had petitioned to cut the 15-year jail term he received in August, with his attorney suggesting three to five years was more consistent with similar cases in Putnam County.

"Fifteen years might be a bit of overkill," defense attorney James Werter told Circuit Judge Terry LaRue.

But LaRue wasn't moved.


"I gave considerable consideration to it," the judge said of the sentence.

Croslin's sister, Misty, was babysitting Haleigh when the child was reported missing Feb. 10, 2009. No trace of the blond-haired kindergartner has been seen since and authorities say they believe she was killed.

An undercover investigation, complete with high-quality videos of illegal prescription drug sales late last year, quickly bore fruit, in stark contrast to the missing child-homicide probe. Several people close to the Haleigh case were jailed on drug charges in January.

Hank Croslin Jr., 24, was arrested on two counts of trafficking.

His sister, Misty, faces seven counts in Putnam County and another St. Johns County, and is slated to be sentenced later this month.

Ronald Cummings, Haleigh's father, in August was sentenced to 15 years after authorities dropped three of the five charges against him.

His cousin, 19-year-old Hope Sykes, received a 15-year prison term in April.

During Monday's hearing, LaRue reiterated his surprise that Hank Croslin Jr. and the others would engage in the sales since they were in the public eye.

"I had trouble believing that they could do that, and I still do," LaRue said.

The judge said he felt the 15-year sentence was fair.

"It was drug dealing," he said. "No doubt about it."

As he did last month, Werter blamed Croslin's problems on his home environment and drug addiction. He said Croslin had tried to "break the cycle he grew up in."

Members of Croslin's family sat in the front row of the courtroom. Some sobbed during the hearing.

Behind them sat members of Haleigh Cummings' family, several wearing T-shirts or holding photos of the child.

Prior to the 20-minute hearing, Marie Griffis, Haleigh's maternal grandmother, hugged Ronald's mother outside the courtroom and after the hearing they stood talking in the shade outside the courthouse.

Ronald Cummings mother said she supported Croslin's sentence.

"They're not in here getting a reduced sentence and I don't think he should have either," she said.

Asked about her son, Neves said, "I don't even think he should have been in there but that's how it goes."

In August, a prosecutor said Hank Croslin Jr. remained a suspect in the Haleigh case.

Defense attorneys recently said he and his cousin, Joe Overstreet of Tennessee, went to the Cummings home in Satsuma looking for a gun and not finding it, Overstreet abducted Haleigh and dumped her body in the St. Johns River.

Overstreet has not been named as a suspect in the case and has not been charged. He was recently jailed on drug charges in Tennessee.


http://www.palatkadailynews.com/articles/2010/10/05/news/news01.txt

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