A prison sentence was handed down this week in a Grayson County courtroom for a Bee Spring man who was found passed out in a vehicle at an Anneta market with a syringe in his hand, heroin in his possession and his baby in the car.
Anthony W. Schatt, 36, was found passed out at Ralph’s Market on the afternoon of June 1, 2020, by then-Grayson County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Zane Greer. The car Schatt occupied was running and in reverse, as an unconscious Schatt had his foot on the break.
His 14-month-old baby was in a car seat in the back of the vehicle.
Greer pulled in behind the suspect’s car upon arrival, and as Schatt woke up, he attempted to back his car up as Greer yelled at him, informing Schatt that he was parked behind him, according to police. Schatt then put the car in drive and began to go forward when Greer entered the car, took control and put the vehicle in park.
Schatt, according to police, was holding a syringe in his hand upon Greer arriving. Another syringe was located in one of Schatt’s pockets. A gram of heroin was also found during a search.
Schatt was originally charged with first-degree criminal abuse (child under 12), two counts of possession of a controlled substance (heroin, drug unspecified), DUI (aggravating circumstances), persistent felony offender, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He pled not guilty to the charges at arraignment.
In May 2022, though, a plea deal was reached where the possession of a controlled substance (drug unspecified) and possession of drug paraphernalia counts were dismissed, according to court documents. The first-degree criminal abuse (child under 12) charge was amended to first-degree wanton endangerment.
Schatt then pled guilty to the first-degree wanton endangerment charge as well as possession of a controlled substance (heroin, his second such offense), DUI (aggravating circumstances) and first-degree persistent felony offender.
For the wanton endangerment charge, court documents state that Schatt was sentenced to 10 years in prison; for the possession of a controlled substance (heroin) charge he was sentenced to two years; and for the DUI (aggravating circumstances) Schatt was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
He was additionally ordered by Circuit Court Judge Bruce T. Butler to attend an alcohol and substance abuse treatment program.
The sentences will run concurrently.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
