BUCYRUS — Jonathan P. Moyer, 25, of Bucyrus appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Thursday, along with his attorney, Joel Spitzer.
Moyer decided to reject the State of Ohio’s official plea deal and take his case before a jury. Judge Sean Leuthold held a hearing to put the plea rejection on the court record. Leuthold explained that the state had offered to reduce the felony vehicular homicide to a misdemeanor vehicular homicide.
Leuthold accepted Moyer’s rejection of the plea deal. He informed Moyer that the trial will be scheduled as a felony vehicular homicide charge.
“The state is withdrawing any further offer,” Leuthold said. “If you decide next week that you should have taken the deal, you cannot come back and expect the deal. Do you understand?”
Moyer indicated that he understood and wanted to proceed to trial. Leuthold ordered the matter to be set for trial.
The vehicular homicide indictment, filed earlier this year, alleges that Moyer recklessly operated a 1991 Yamaha Jet Ski, causing the death of 18-year-old Jacie E. Everett.
The indictment further alleges that Moyer broke the law by operating the watercraft without successfully completing the required boater safety course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and failed to take the required examination that results in a certification — allowing the driver to operate boats or water vehicles — a misdemeanor.
The homicide charge is a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison.
Michael Mazur, 32, of Grafton admitted to violating the terms and conditions of his community control. Mazur was on judicial release from a 2017 charge of felonious assault. Mazur admitted to testing positive for the use of marijuana and alcohol.
Mazur’s attorney, Joel Spitzer, made an agreement for his client to enter into the Volunteer of America Rehabilitation Program located in Mansfield.
“This is one last chance for you,” Leuthold said. “You must successfully complete the Volunteers of America Program. I may be giving you just enough rope to hang yourself. If you fail at this, I’ve got my own special program for guys like you: prison!”
Michael Glosser, 20, of Grafton appeared in court to answer charges that he violated the terms and conditions of his community control. Glosser is on judicial release from an earlier charge of unlawful sexual conduct conviction, a fourth-degree felony.
According to the most recent charges, Glosser tested positive for the use of marijuana and had another charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor between the ages of 13-16. The new charge stems from contact with a juvenile other than the first victim.
Glosser asked to speak in court and began to lament that the marijuana charges are unreasonable, which drew the judge’s ire.
Leuthold told Glosser: “If I were you, I’d be more concerned about having unlawful sexual conduct with a minor rather than how serious a marijuana charge should be.”
Leuthold set bond at $150,000 and appointed attorney Grant Garverick to represent Glosser.