By NICK SABO

Staff Writer

MILLERSBURG -- A Wooster man was sentenced to prison for stealing a purse.

Joshua I. Long, 29, of 1832 E. Lincoln Way, was sentenced to 10 months in prison by Holmes County Common Pleas Judge Robert D. Rinfret on one count of theft from an elderly person. The prison time comes after Long overdosed on heroin July 6 while out on bond.

The theft charge stems from Dec. 2 when Long stole a 69-year-old woman's purse out of a shopping cart at a Millersburg store. The purse was recovered, less a small amount of cash and credit cards, discarded along Township Road 103.

Long faces similar charges in Ashland County, where he is charged with one count of theft and three counts of misuse of credit cards. The charges allege he stole a woman's rolex watches purse and used her credit cards at three businesses. Long has pleaded not guilty.

Speaking before Rinfret on Thursday, Long said he stole to support a drug habit. That habit almost turned deadly July 6, when he overdosed after shooting up with heroin. He was revived by emergency medical personnel who administered Naloxone, a drug that counters the effects of opiate overdose.

Before July 6, Rinfret said Long was a candidate for residential treatment at the Stark Regional Community Corrections Center. Because Long used drugs while on bond, Rinfret said he was moved toward a prison sentence.

Long has made restitution and written a letter of apology to the victim in the Holmes County case.

Reporter Nick Sabo can be reached at 330-674-1811 or e-mail .

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