Man back in prison in fatal overdose case

NORWALK — After successfully petitioning for early prison release, a Wakeman man sentenced in a fatal overdose case is back behind bars. Huron County Common Pleas Court Judge James Conway sentenced Stephen R. Barnhart, 47, of the 2300 block of Fitchville River Road, to serve four years in prison due to violating two conditions of his probation. On Dec. 23, 2024, Conway sentenced Barnhart to serve four years in prison and additionally received over six months of jail time credit. Barnhart previously pleaded guilty on Dec. 11 to one amended count of attempted corrupting another with drugs, a third-degree felony, and one count of possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony. Barnhart pleaded guilty to the two charges in exchange for the dismissal of an additional count of corrupting another with drugs, along with one count of involuntary manslaughter. Under the terms of his sentencing, Barnhart was subject to a mandatory term of two years post-release control, according to court records. At a court hearing on Sept. 3, 2025, Conway approved Barnhart's motion for early judicial release, which was filed a month earlier on Aug. 14, court records state. Probation violations In a complaint filed by Barnhart's probation officer, Aliesha Boonie, on April 2, 2026, she noted that Barnhart allegedly violated the following two conditions of his probation: • Condition #7: Barnhart is not allowed to "possess, use, purchase," or have any narcotic drug or other controlled substance unless lawfully prescribed by a licensed physician. He is also required to submit to drug testing whenever his "supervising officer requires." The complaint noted that on three separate occasions, Barnhart either failed to submit to the drug test or admitted to having tested positive for methamphetamines and amphetamines. • Condition #12: Barnhart failed to report to the probation department in person as directed by his supervising officer.