BUCYRUS—Barton DeWitt, 57, of Crestline, appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court to respond to a request by the state of Oregon to extradite him on multiple sexual charges.
DeWitt is charged with one class A felony and nine class two felonies that include eight counts of sexual abuse, one count of unlawful penetration, and one count of the intent to commit felony sodomy.
DeWitt had the option to waive his extradition rights, giving the state of Oregon ten business days to pick him up at the Crawford County Jail. If they failed to pick him up in that time frame, he would appear again be Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold, who would set bond.
DeWitt’s other option would be to fight extradition and force the state of Oregon to get a requisition signed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine for his transport.
If DeWitt chooses to fight extradition, he will receive no jail time credit while waiting for the Governor’s orders.
When asked by Judge Leuthold what he wanted to do, DeWitt said he did not want to go to Oregon because he didn’t have ties there.
Judge Leuthold decided that DeWitt needed further legal counsel before declaring his intentions. Judge Leuthold appointed attorney Jerry Thompson to represent DeWitt.