BUCYRUS–Cameron Davis, 32, was sentenced Wednesday in the Crawford County Common Pleas Court for his part in the beating death of Michael “Mikey” Benedict in October of 2021.
Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold allowed the mother of Benedict’s children to make a statement.
The victim told the court that the family has much pain and hurt in their hearts. She told Davis how much he’d hurt everyone, including family and friends:
“You talk about how you hope you can get parole after 10 years in prison so you can see your kids. His (Benedict’s) children will still have to go to the cemetery to see their dad. How is that fair? Evil don’t have guilt. We suffer not only from memories we have of him fighting for his life from the night of you and your two friends beating and stomping him to death. We are left with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. We have therapy sometimes two times a week. Today I will say loudly, you are pure evil. I have to raise four minor children on my own. Two are about to graduate this year and they don’t have their daddy to be there, smiling and letting them know how proud he is of them. He can’t go to football games or watch them get married. My children are left without a father, from your evil actions. I’ll be at every parole hearing fighting as much and as long as I can to keep you from getting out. A life was taken far too soon, but never forgotten,” She said.
Davis’ attorney, Jerry Thompson, told the court that his client is remorseful about his poor decisions that night. That included the excessive drinking, the company he kept, and his actions:
“This whole case is a tragedy. It has destroyed a whole lot of people’s lives. Mr. Davis has taken responsibility from almost the beginning. It doesn’t take the pain away, but at least he stood up and took responsibility. On behalf of Mr. Davis, I would like to apologize to all of his family members and all the people in Mr. Benedict’s life that he (Davis) took from them,” Thompson said.
Cameron Davis addressed the victims: “I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart. I’m sincerely sorry for my actions and everything you’re going through. It should never have happened,” Davis said.
Leuthold responded only to the victim impact statement:
“I can’t imagine I could put anything into better words than the victims have. Nothing I can say at this time is more powerful or appropriate. I’m going to let the victim statement speak for itself, Leuthold said.
Leuthold explained to Davis that his crime falls within the discretion of the Regan Tokes law.
The Tokes Act became law after Reagan Tokes, a 21-year-old student, was abducted, raped, and murdered in 2017 by a man on parole. The law permits the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (DRC) to keep an offender in prison past the minimum term in the offender’s sentence.
The Department of Corrections can add additional prison time to Davis’ sentence based on his conduct while incarcerated, rehabilitation, the threat to society, housing restrictions ( if any), and security class. However, exemplary conduct could reduce his sentence by five to 15 percent.
Assistant Prosecutor Dan Stanley told the court that whether or not the state supports a judicial release depends solely on Davis’ conduct in prison. “The state will stay silent based on how he does,” Stanley said.
“Ultimately I decide on his judicial release. Me and no one else. The state can recommend and recommend and recommend and I still make the final decision,” Leuthold said.
Judge Leuthold sentenced Davis to a maximum of 25 years in prison.