By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Judge Sean Leuthold has become well known for being tough on drug-related crimes but Monday afternoon’s actions showed that he wouldn’t be any easier on sex-related crimes.
Nineteen-year-old Jeffrey Gottfried of Bucyrus had been held in the county jail on a $200,000 bond since March 16. He was charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Assistant prosecutor Ryan Hoovler stated in Crawford County Common Pleas Court Monday that the victim in the case had been a 13-year-old runaway who had stayed a night at the defendant’s house.
Gottfried, who was 18 at the time, had sex with the minor. His DNA was as a result of a rape kit test that was taken. Gottfried pleaded guilty to the felony four charge.
Leuthold stated that Gottfried had taken advantage of the victim’s young age and had preyed upon her emotional state.
Leuthold ordered Gottfried to serve 17 months in prison, one month shy of the maximum penalty Gottfried could have received. Once released from prison, Gottfried will serve a mandatory five years on post-release control and must register as a Tier I sex offender for the next 15 years.
Twenty-five-year-old Zane Wells was sentenced to five years on community control Monday. The Bucyrus man pleaded guilty to possession of heroin earlier this month. Wells must enter into a drug and alcohol treatment program, pay a $1,250 mandatory drug fine, and forfeit drug-related property to the Bucyrus Police Department. His driver’s license was also suspended for six months.
Tyler Painter agreed to be extradited to Kansas. A warrant had been issued from the state for Painter, who is accused of violating his probation in that state.