Judge Kevin P. Braig and Logan County Court of Common Pleas Adult Recovery Court (ARC) Team are pleased to announce the recent graduation of Ron Kosiek and Doug Summers from the ARC.
“Ron Kosiek was kind of at sea when he came into the ARC,” Judge Braig said. “Now, he is married, a father, has a steady job and a small side business, and has reconnected with his own father.
“He looks healthy and great. I could not be prouder of Ron for his commitment to recovery and his growth into a responsible adult man and father.”
ARC graduates are required to write a letter summarizing their experience on the road to recovery and read it at graduation. Summers surprised everyone by writing a rap song and rapping to the beat instead.
“It was wonderful,” Judge Braig said of Summers’ creative rap. “I loved it. Doug is a creative and talented guy. Now that he has embraced the habits of recovery, his talent and creativity is starting to show through in all aspects of his life.
“Candidly, I was not sure about placing Doug in the ARC. There was a strong argument to impose a more severe sentence. But his loved ones fought hard for the court to give him a chance in ARC. I am glad that they did. Doug has proven over the last two years that he can be both sober and a gentleman. Everyone on the ARC treatment team is proud of him and his commitment to be a peaceful and supportive family man.”
The ARC treatment team, treatment providers and friends and family of the graduates celebrated at Putt & Play Golf Center, 209 W. Columbus Ave., Bellefontaine.
Judge Braig presented both a certificate of graduation and a guitar pick inscribed “ARC Walk the Line” as a token remembrance of his time in ARC and graduation. The judge presents all graduates with this inspirational pick as a reminder that country music star Johnny Cash once suffered from a substance abuse disorder but with the help of his wife June Carter Cash and her family walked the line of recovery. After a pizza lunch and the ceremony, the judge, treatment team, and participants joined in a few friendly and fun rounds of putt-putt golf during which the participants attempted (unsuccessfully) to defeat the judge.
The ARC treatment team works within the framework of the traditional Logan County Common Pleas Court. The ARC’s mission is to achieve specific, rehabilitative objectives. The objectives of the ARC are to monitor treatment for substance abuse disorder of ARC participants, encourage and incentivize ARC participants to achieve rehabilitation and personal accountability, and decrease criminal activity and the need for incarceration.
The ARC provides its participants with the support of Judge Braig, Treatment Coordinator and Program Manager Annette Deao, Compliance Officers Jim Pleasant and Mandy Wilber, and treatment providers from TCN Behavioral Health Services, Community Health Wellness, the Justice Reinvestment Grant, Logan County Assistant Prosecutor Erin Rosen, local attorneys Natalie Bahan and Greg Harvey, and others. The members of the ARC Team share the goals of: empowering ARC participants through treatment, accountability, and responsibility; assisting ARC participants in achieving recovery from substance abuse disorder; and helping ARC participants lead useful and productive lives.