BUCYRUS, OH—After a two-day trial and jury deliberations, Michael Goralczyk, 48, if Michigan, has been convicted of burglary, a second-degree felony that carries a maximum sentence of 8 years in prison. Goralczyk had traveled to Crestline last August to visit his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Alexandria Vega Garcia, with the intention of potentially living with her.
According to Assistant Prosecutor Dan Stanley, the couple had planned for Goralczyk to move from Michigan to Crestline in order to start a new life together. Goralczyk was also supposed to enter rehabilitation for his alcohol and drug addiction. However, on the morning of August 15th, an argument broke out when Goralczyk became angry that Garcia refused to buy him alcohol.
The police were called and Goralczyk was taken to a nearby McDonald’s to arrange a ride back to Michigan. He later returned to Garcia’s home and, when she refused to open the door, he broke a glass door window and entered the house. He was subsequently apprehended and taken to a hospital for treatment of cuts on his arm.
Goralczyk’s defense attorney, Joel Spitzer, attempted to convince the jury that the couple’s back-and-forth bad behaviors was typical of their relationship.
Spitzer argued that his client should not be charged with burglary because he had intended to reside with Garcia. However, the jury disagreed and found Goralczyk guilty of the second-degree felony.
Crawford County Common Pleas Judge Sean Leuthold ordered Goralczyk to be taken into custody. He will be sentenced in approximately two weeks. In a statement to Crawford County Now, Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall expressed his gratitude to Assistant Prosecutor Dan Stanley for his excellent work on the case. Crall also commended the Crestline Police Department for ensuring the safety of the community.