BUCYRUS — A Crestline man went against the advice of his attorney and pleaded guilty to one count of felonious assault, a second-degree felony punishable with up to eight years in prison.
Louis Lulenski, 28, of Crestline accepted a plea deal in Crawford County Common Pleas Court Wednesday that places him on five years of community control. Lulenski will also have to take anger management counseling and pay restitution to the victim in an amount to be determined. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim.
Lulenski’s attorney, Sebastian Berger, addressed the court saying that his client was acting against his advice.
“I told Mr. Lulenski that I believe this case was overcharged. The victim in the case is not cooperating,” Berger said. “I wanted him to wait until we got further discovery on the case. I told him I was concerned that he would plead guilty to a felony. That felony could impede his ability to work and will follow him all his life. Community control is against my advice, but it is his decision.”
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold explained to Lulenski that he has eight years of prison over his head.
“If you take this plea, you have very limited appeal rights. One misstep will put you in prison for eight years,” Leuthold said. “Do you understand that?”
Lulenski said he would complete the community control and that he was confident he could work and provide for his daughter.
Leuthold explained in detail that Lulenski could have no contact with the victim.
“Any contact through social media, any comments on social media, any contact through a third party, I consider contact,” Leuthold said. “I understand the state offered this because they realize the victim is not cooperating.”
Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler told the court that the victim was not cooperating and that her injuries were permanent.
Leuthold followed the recommendation of the state. “
You’ve got all the motivation in the world to make it. You’re looking at almost a decade in prison if you don’t,” Leuthold said.
In other court action, Rex Beechum, 55, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control and a new charge of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison.
Beechum admitted to assaulting hospital personnel after he was treated for a drug overdose and admitted to using drugs while on community control. Beechum was on judicial release from a third-degree felony after being sentenced to 36 months in prison.
Leuthold reinstated Beechum’s 36-month prison sentence and sentenced him to one additional year for the latest possession charge. That sentence will run concurrently with the reinstated prison sentence and he will receive jail time credit.
“You’ve been in jail since February and I must say you look better and healthier,” Leuthold said. “The last time I saw you, you looked like hell. When you get out, stay clean. You’re too old for this crap.”