BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—A Crawford County jury has found 37-year-old Ricky Chavarria guilty of felony strangulation and domestic violence following a trial regarding an incident on East Warren Street in Bucyrus.
The jury of twelve returned guilty verdicts on both counts, which are classified as third-degree felonies. Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to 36 months, meaning Chavarria faces a total of up to 72 months in prison. Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler led the state’s case during the trial.
Crawford County Prosecutor Matthew Crall credited the victim’s testimony for the conviction. “The difference in this case was the victim,” Crall said. “She bravely testified what had happened and convinced the jury as to the truth. It is difficult to appreciate the bravery that this young woman summoned to face the person who did this to her.”
Ohio established strangulation as a distinct criminal charge separate from domestic violence or felonious assault in 2023 to address the specific severity of the act. According to medical experts, the physical impact of strangulation is rapid and life-threatening; unconsciousness can occur within 7 to 10 seconds, a stroke can follow after 15 seconds, and cardiac arrest can occur within 30 seconds.
Prosecutor Crall noted that his office is seeing an increasing number of these cases and remains committed to holding offenders accountable. He also expressed gratitude to the Bucyrus Police Department for their investigative work on the case.
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold is scheduled to sentence Chavarria at a later date.