BUCYRUS — A Bucyrus man will spend more than a decade in prison after pleading guilty to rape charges Thursday in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.
Caleb Jones, 24, pleaded guilty to one first-degree felony charge for rape and one third-degree felony charge for importuning, punishable with as many as 36 months in prison.
Jones appeared in court with attorney Adam Stone. Assistant prosecutor Ryan Hoovler prosecuted the case.
According to allegations, Jones began an inappropriate and illegal sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl.
At one point in the case, Stone requested a competency examination on his client. Crawford County Common Pleas Judge Sean Leuthold granted the motion. Although the examination revealed Jones suffered from intellectual and developmental disabilities, it was concluded that he was competent to stand trial.
Before rendering sentence on Jones, Leuthold gave the prosecution and defense and Jones the opportunity to speak.
Hoovler addressed the court first.
“This even was a catastrophic event in the victim’s life,” Hoovler said. “The victim did consent in as much as a 12 year old can consent. A 12 year old is not able to make these kinds of decisions. This victims is dealing with several issues and will never regain her childhood back.”
Stone addressed the court next.
“We agree your honor with counsel that this is a catastrophic event,” Stone said. “My client’s psychological state is at the root of why we are here. He was born with intellectual and developmental disabilities. But we understand that he is competent and that he knew what he was doing was wrong. I have had to work with my client to make him understand that he cannot have this relationship. It’s inappropriate and unlawful. If he could undo the damage it caused he would. For the record, I want to state what got us here in the first place. My client is here to take responsibility for his actions.”
Jones gave no comment.
Leuthold thanked both the attorneys for what he called their excellent work.
“We have to punish the offender, protect the public and do what is fair to all,” Leuthold said.
Leuthold went on to explain the monstrous burden placed on the state with sex offender cases. He said there are many factors to be taken into consideration when working pleas and when deciding what sentence to recommend.
“There is the level of proof that must be considered,” Leuthold said. “Sometimes evidence is very powerful and the case is cut and dry. The state can hold hard for harsh sentences in those cases. In other cases, the level of proof is thin and there’s a chance that a guilty offender can be acquitted. Sometimes if the level of proof is not there, the state has to take the half loaf to get the conviction and get these offenders on the registry. The court has to follow the recommendation or say no to it. I understand the public sometimes thinks some sentences are too light but there is a lot to take into considerations.”
Before passing sentence, Leuthold said the level of proof in this case was very strong.
“Text messages containing sexual comments were hidden from the victim’s father,” Leuthold said. “Mr. Jones showed up at the victim’s junior high school and lied to employees saying he was her brother. Officials recognized him from being a former student. When they would not release the girl to him, he texted her and she bolted out a side door to flee the school with him. He was aware of her age but continued a sexual relationship for a long period of time. The juvenile thought it was a romantic relationship, but in fact it was predatory.”
James Scott, victim’s advocate for the prosecutor’s office, indicated to the court that there were no victims in attendance for the sentencing and that there was no impact statement to be read into the record.
Leuthold explained the mandatory sentencing before imposing the sentence.
Because of the victim’s age (younger than 13), the mandatory sentence for rape is life in prison with the possibility of parole after 10 years.
Leuthold noted because there was an additional charge of importunity, the defendant would have to serve the entire 36 months of that sentence before being allowed to apply for parole.
The final sentence was life in prison with the possibility of parole after 13 years.
Leuthold commended the state for their recommendation.
“It is clear that you could have charged several more counts in this case,” Leuthold said. “I understand that you took the defendant’s disability into account. The evidence is overwhelming but I understand why you chose not to seek more charges.”
Leuthold informed Jones that he will forever be a Tier III sex offender and will have to register with the sheriff of the county he resides in every 90 days for the rest of his life.
Leuthold addressed Jones.
“I take no joy in this case,” Leuthold said. “You are a young man. You’ve done a terrible thing and you are going to pay a terrible price. You were manipulative, you covered your tracks and you had opportunities to stop this thing and didn’t. You’re a young man. At some point you’ll get out. In the meantime, take advantage of every program available to you. There are programs that will help you develop and mature. When I first saw you, you reminded me of a rebellious child, a gangster wannabe. I see some remorse today. You can come back from this.”
Jones will receive 274 days of credit for jail time served.