BUCYRUS—A Galion man appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday with his new defense attorney to clarify the details of a potential plea agreement in an upcoming rape trial.

Fred Hatfield, 74, of Galion, is accused of seven counts of rape against a victim under the age of 13. Due to the victim’s age, if convicted, Hatfield could serve seven life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Hatfield, who is being held in the Crawford County Jail, was originally represented by attorney Jerry Thompson. In June, Hatfield petitioned the court requesting a change of counsel and asking to be represented by attorney Tom Nicholson.

Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold granted Hatfield’s request due to the serious nature of the charges against him.

However, today Nicholson expressed to the court that Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler offered his client one deal, and Prosecutor Matt Crall had offered a different plea deal.

Judge Leuthold had all parties explain their understanding of the plea details.

Tom Nicholson told the court that Prosecutor Matt Crall had offered a deal of life in prison with the chance of parole after serving ten years, while Hoovler offered a possibility of parole after 20 years or a flat 30 year sentence.

Crall told the court Nicholson had contacted him asking for the ten-year deal. Crall said he would pass the offer on to Hoovler, who is prosecuting the case. Crall was adamant that he did not make a commitment to Nicholson.

Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler told the court that as a courtesy, he extended the same offer that was presented to Hatfield by his former attorney. That deal was 20 years in prison with a chance of parole after serving the 20 years or a flat prison sentence of thirty years.

Nicholson expressed his dismay at the events:

“This is a very distressing case because of the letter I sent to Mr. Crall. Mr. Hatfield has a Bronze Star for extreme valor against an armed opponent in Vietnam. He has the Purple Heart. He was NCO of the year for the National Guard of Ohio. He is a highly decorated military man.” Nicholson said.

Nicholson went on to tell the court that at his client’s age, a twenty-year sentence is a death sentence.

“We would accept life in prison or any sentence as long as there’s a chance for parole in ten years. Other than that, this is just a death sentence, and we cannot accept that.” Nicholson said.

“There is no agreement. There wasn’t a meeting of the minds. We will set this for trial.” Leuthold said.