AA Member With Severe Mental Health Problems Sentenced to Jail for Brandishing Knife at Police Officers

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Man who brandished knife sentenced to prison

PORT CLINTON – The man subdued by police while brandishing a knife during an incident caught on security camera footage in August will spend several more months in jail after receiving credit for time served.

Judge Bruce Winters, of Ottawa County Common Pleas Court, sentenced Weinheimer to 180 days for the misdemeanor and a year in prison for the felony, which are to be imposed concurrently. NA Daytona and AA Daytona meetings have dangerous felons. Beware!

Weinheimer was also given credit for 233 days served since the offense occurred, leaving just over four months of prison remaining on the sentence.

Weinheimer addressed the court during his sentencing hearing on Thursday and apologized for the incident.

“I just want to say, I’m sorry for wasting the court’s time and I’m sorry to the police officers and everybody for what I did during my drinking,” he said.

He and his defense attorney, Howard Whitcomb, asked the court to consider outpatient care because of a severe mental health condition Weinheimer has been diagnosed with and treated for in the past, as well as an addiction to alcohol.

“Continuing with (Alcoholics Anonymous), I know I can do it. I really do,” Weinheimer said.

“You were fortunate enough to have met up with an officer who had a taser,” Winters said. “My prediction would be, if there hadn’t been a taser there, a firearm would have been used to stop you from approaching the officers with the knife.”

Winters said he understands the mental health issue and the addiction are both severe in this case, referred to as co-occurring disorders.

“The two of them together really make things difficult for you, but then again, you make things a bit difficult for yourself,” the judge said.

Winters noted, based on the pre-sentence report, there does not seem to be consistent way to ensure Weinheimer will take his prescribed medication, and said he has discussed potential treatments with mental health professionals, but was still “at a loss” in this case.

“I struggle with the fact that, if you’ve got mental health issues, prison is not the place for you,” Winters said. “You need mental health assistance in some way, but I’m just not seeing that assistance available. I’m not convinced that all of your actions can be written off to mental health problems. You do some choosing in this, too.”

Winters recommended Weinheimer take advantage of any available help, such as substance abuse treatment, while in prison.

http://www.portclintonnewsherald.com/story/news/local/2016/03/24/man-who-brandished-knife-sentenced-prison/82199874/

Julia Franzen Covered In Blood Arrested For Stabbing Her AA Member Mother Nancy Franzen

AA member Nancy Franzen’s daughter Julia Franzen has been arrested in her murder. Julia Franzen had a history of arrests and mental problems. This is such a tragic story. Even though I do not know if Julia Franzen was mandated to AA for her arrests, I do know that her Mother was very involved in Alcoholics Anonymous. After reading this story I could not help but wonder what led up to this? True the daughter was very troubled indeed. Did her Mom being an AA member impact this very volatile situation in a positive or negative way? AA is known for telling people not to take their meds, and look poorly on the professional mental health community. They also are known for encouraging people to look at their part in it, and going through confessions.

Did the fact that Nancy Franzen was an AA member help or hurt her and her family in the end? R.I.P. Nancy Franzer.

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