BUCYRUS — A former Boy Scout leader was sentenced in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.
Arthur Sorensen Jr., 36, of Lexington entered a no contest plea. Sorensen agreed that the facts in the case were enough for a finding of guilty by Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold but would not admit guilt.
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 home of the victim. The Boy Scouts of America terminated Sorensen before he was accused and indicted on the rape charges. In total, between Crawford and Morrow Counties, Sorensen faced more than 100 counts of sexual crimes.
Sorensen pleaded no contest on two counts including rape, a first-degree felony punishable with between three and 11 years in prison, and one count of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, a second-degree felony punishable with up to five years in prison.
Before sentencing, attorney Brad Koffel from the Columbus Law Firm of Koffel, Brininger and Nesbitt addressed the court.
Koffel said he had asked for a competency hearing after Leuthold’s initial examination because his client was not participating in the building of his defense. Koffel said he thought any reasonable person would have taken the deal first offered.
Koffel noted that he explained to his client that they were dealing with an indefensible 100 count indictment out of Morrow County. Koffel said in December, during a jail visit, Sorensen understood and reluctantly said he would take the plea.
“I believe my client understands the proceeding but is reluctant (not out of competency) but because of the sentence he is facing,” Koffel said.
“The lawyers in this case have done an admirable job and represented their client zealously,” Leuthold said. “Mr. Sorensen had indicated he understands based on the facts stipulated in this case there is ample evidence to find him guilty. I have reviewed those facts, the police report, and a statement from the victim in this case.”
Parents of the victim were present in court and agreed to the sentence but chose not to speak.
Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler told the court, “I met with the victim in this case and the family. This is a fantastic young man who was put in a tremendously bad situation and forced to defend himself from someone he trusted, and thought was a friend. He is happy to know that Mr. Sorensen will be going to prison for a long time. It is my wish that with the help of his family and counseling he can be the young man he was meant to be.”
In his address to the court, Koffel put on record that he felt this sentence was in the best interest of his client and that earlier in the morning Sorensen had unsuccessfully attempted suicide by hanging.
“Our jail is fully able to ensure his safe transport to prison,” Leuthold said.
Leuthold sentenced Sorensen to 10 years in prison for rape and five years in prison for pandering sexually oriented material to a minor. Sorensen is to have no contact with the victim.
“Upon your release from prison in 15 years you will be supervised on post-release control for another five years. You will be designated as a Tier III sex offender and required to report to the sheriff’s department in person every 90 days for the rest of your life,” Leuthold said.
Sorensen will receive 290 days of jail time credit.
“This agreement allows the victim to avoid testifying and this lengthy prison sentence will allow him to get on with his life,” Leuthold said. “You committed a terrible crime and you are going to pay a high price. Serious crime deserves serious punishment. You could have received more time, but this spares the victim from having to relive this nightmare.”
Prosecutor Matt Crall echoed Leuthold’s sentiments.
“I believe justice has been done. We always want to hold criminals accountable and balance what’s best for the victim,” Crall said. “I believe we did that in this case. This spares the victim from the potential humiliation a trial would cause. The defendant is no longer associated with the Boy Scouts who terminated him from their program for inappropriate behavior prior to this indictment.”