BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—In a last-minute development, Kenneth Hablitzel entered a plea deal just moments before jury selection for his criminal trial was scheduled to begin this morning in the Crawford County Common Pleas Court.
Hablitzel, 40, of Bucyrus, faced 19 felony counts against a child and opted to plead guilty to all charges the prosecution intended to present to the jury, with the sole exception of the sexually violent predator specification.
Crawford County Assistant Prosecutor Dan Stanley confirmed the resolution, noting that the victims involved in the case have expressed relief at the outcome.
Hablitzel pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, two counts of gross sexual imposition, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of attempted kidnapping, and one count of intimidation by threat.
According to the prosecution, Hablitzel faces a potential sentence of up to 83 years in prison. Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold will determine the final sentence following a court-ordered pre-sentence investigation. A date for the sentencing hearing has not yet been set.
Crawford County Now will continue to cover this developing case.