Car stop leads to long sentence for convicted felon

For Ian Douglas Ruth, the time just kept adding up.

For the charge of receiving stolen property in the form of a black pistol, three to six years. For receiving stolen property in the form of a silver handgun, another three to six years. For a third such charge, related to his use of a 2002 Suzuki that didn’t belong to him, two to fours years.

On and on, Common Pleas Judge James P. MacElree II kept stacking the prison terms one on top of the other, pronouncing that each term of incarceration in a state correctional institution would be served consecutively. Six to 12 years in prison for the charge of persons not to possess a firearm. Three to seven years for the crime of firearms not to be carried without a license.

In the end, Ruth, 29, of Manheim, Lancaster County, left MacElree’s courtroom on the seventh floor of the Chester County Justice Center with a prison term equalling 17 to 35 years.

Ruth, a felon with a criminal history dating back to 2006, had been found guilty of three counts of receiving stolen property, plus the firearms charges, following a two-part criminal trial in MacElree’s courtroom on Nov. 9 and 10. (One of the firearms charges was carved out of the case because hearing it together with the other charge might have prejudiced the jury against him.)

He was also found guilty of driving under the influence on a suspended license and sentenced to 90 days to six months additional prison time for that. He will be eligible for parole in October 2033, when he is 46 years old.

Ruth was arrested by Downingtown police on July 2 when the 2002 Suzuki he was driving was spotted traveling east on Lancaster Avenue by Sgt. David Smith around 6 a.m. Smith said a check of the car’s registration showed that it had been reported as stolen. When Smith was taken into custody, Smith detected the odor of alcohol on his breath, and found a plastic bag containing suspected marijuana in his pockets.

He was taken to Brandywine Hospital in Caln for blood testing after failing field sobriety tests.

When Smith contacted Manheim Township Police in Lancaster County to report the vehicle as being recovered, he was told that police there were also

Six to 12 years in prison for the charge of persons not to possess a firearm. Three to seven years for the crime of firearms not to be carried without a license.

tracking the theft of two guns from home of the car’s owner — Susan Heater-Ruth, Ian Ruth’s mother. She gave Smith verbal approval to search the car, and when he did, he found the guns.

Located behind the car’s passenger seat were a Ruger 9mm handgun and a Hi Point JCP 40 caliber Smith and Wesson. The owner was identified as Peter Ruth, Ian Ruth’s brother. The 40 caliber handgun was found to be loaded with a round in the chamber, Smith wrote in his criminal complaint.

The prosecution was led by Assistant District Attorney Christopher Miller. Ruth was represented by Assistant Public Defender Stewart Paintin.