BUCYRUS — A Lexington man was back in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday for a hearing requesting a competency exam.
Arthur Sorensen Jr. is facing three first-degree felony charges for rape with the victim being 12 years old. Each rape charge carries a life sentence without the possibility of parole if convicted.
Sorensen additionally was indicted on a second-degree felony charge for pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor and a third-degree felony charge for sexual battery.
On Oct. 2, 99 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor were dismissed.
According to allegations, Sorensen was a scout leader who met the victim’s mother while her son participated in scouting. The couple began a relationship and Sorensen moved into the victim’s home.
Sorensen was fired from The Boy Scouts of America before he was indicted on rape charges.
Sorensen’s attorney, Brad Koffel, asked the court to order a competency exam on his client. Crawford County Common Pleas Judge Sean Leuthold said that though the case had been in negotiation for more than five months, no one had ever requested a competency hearing before Monday.
Koffel explained to the court that his client will not respond to any plea offers presented by the State of Ohio.
“He won’t respond to offers made,” Koffel said. “He does answer some questions. Each time he is asked for a yes or no response to an offer, he simply does not respond.”
Koffel told the court this led him to make the motion because Sorensen is not participating and therefore may not be competent to understand the proceedings.
Leuthold engaged Sorensen in a number of questions to determine his understanding of the proceedings. Sorensen was able to tell the court he had never experienced any mental illness or had any treatment from a mental health professional. He told the court he was feeling depressed and had asked for counseling a few months ago but had not received counseling. He said he understood the role of the judge, prosecutor, attorneys and the jury.
In a negotiated plea offer the prosecution wanted Sorensen sentenced to 15 years in prison. As part of that negotiation, Morrow County prosecutors agreed not to file further charges with their grand jury against Sorensen.
Sorensen indicated to the court that he could answer that offer. Leuthold ordered a recess to allow Sorensen to confer with his attorney.
Before rendering his decision on the motion for a competency evaluation for Sorensen, Leauthold asked the prosecution if he had any input.
“With what has happened here it is clear that he is competent and can aid in his own defense,” Crawford County Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler said.
After the prosecution’s comments, Leuthold rendered his ruling.
“Mr. Sorensen has never suffered from mental illness, has never seen a psychiatrist, has not been on any medicines, has been able to answer all my questions and even understood that there are 12 people on a jury,” Leuthold said. “There is really nothing here to find him not competent to stand trial. Counseling for depression does not rise to the level of incompetency.”
Sorensen then informed the court through his counsel that he did not want to take the plea offer of 15 years in prison and wants to proceed to trial.
Leuthold informed Sorensen that prosecutors in Morrow County had agreed not to pursue an additional 105 counts in their county if Sorensen took the plea offered in Crawford County. That offer was to be withdrawn if Sorensen did not take the Crawford County deal.
Leuthold ordered a trial date be set in the near future.