BUCYRUS — William W. Butler of Bucyrus was arraigned Monday in Crawford County Common Pleas Court via video from the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department.
Butler, 61, is charged with one count of rape, a first-degree felony punishable with up to 11 years in prison, one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a third-degree felony punishable with up to 36 months in prison and one count of gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony punishable by up to 18 months in prison. The alleged victim is 13 years old.
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold set Butler’s bond at one million dollars. He appointed attorney Brad Starkey to represent Butler.
Serep Tamang, 25, of Akron pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison.
Tamang admitted to initiating a relationship with a 14-year-old girl via Facebook. He admitted lying to the victim about his age. He came to Crawford County and engaged in sexual contact with the minor.
Leuthold accepted a plea agreement entered into by the state and the defense. The recommendation was 18 months in prison with a possible judicial release. Tamang would also register as a Tier II sex offender for the next 25 years.
Before pronouncing sentence on Tamang, Leuthold heard from the victim’s mother, who asked the court to carefully consider what Tamang had done before granting any judicial release.
“He took my daughter’s innocence. Please think twice before you grant him judicial release.”
She told the court the defendant knew he was wrong and lied about his age. She said her daughter never lied about her age to the defendant and that the defendant was an internet creeper and that he may well have other victims out there.
Leuthold was moved by the mother’s statement. He told the court that while the state had agreed to consider judicial release in this case that the final say is up to him.
“Your pain is very evident. Your daughter is a victim here,” Leuthold said. “I can see how the defendant fooled her because he appears to be much younger than he is. The deceit he used is shameful and will not be tolerated.”
Leuthold told the mother that he knew there was a lot she wanted to say and that if she would like to provide the court with a written statement, he would review that statement if judicial release becomes an option for the defendant.
Leuthold sentenced Tamang to the maximum sentence of 18 months in prison. He ordered Tamang to register as a Tier II sex offender for the next 25 years.
“Creeping on the internet and deceiving girls into sex will never be tolerated,” Leuthold said.
Tamang was remanded into custody and ordered transferred to prison immediately.