BUCYRUS—A Bucyrus couple has been arraigned on charges that could put them in prison for more than 30 years. Chad Stander, 47, of Bucyrus was formally arraigned in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday.
Stander is accused of crimes that have spanned the past ten years resulting in a nine county indictment. Stander has been hospitalized since shortly after his arrest and Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold had been unable to arraign him because of COVID restrictions. A deputy from the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department was placed outside his room for the duration of his hospital stay. He was returned this morning to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department and was arraigned via video.
According to Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler, Stander was charged with the crimes as a result of an investigation into another crime. Hoovler said Stander’s victims, family members were 14 and 15 years old when the crimes began in 2010. Stander was the so called “fun” relative who gave the victims alcohol and then drugs to render them incapacitated so he could rape and sexually assault them. According to Hoovler, Stander admitted involvement. His wife is a co-defendant in the case but has yet to be indicted and arraigned.
Stander is charged with two counts of rape, each felonies of the first degree and each punishable with up to 11 years in prison, 2 counts of corrupting another with drugs, each felonies of the second degree and each punishable with up to 8 years in prison, one count of sexual battery and one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, both third-degree felonies and each punishable with up 36 months in prison, one count of aggravated trafficking of drugs, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison and two counts of receiving stolen property (guns) each fourth-degree felonies and each punishable with up to 18 months in prison.
Leuthold noted for the court that he had appointed attorney Jerry Thompson to represent Stander while he was hospitalized. Thompson was unable to appear in court today for the arraignment. Leuthold kept Stander’s bond at $2,000,000.00. He noted that if Thompson wanted to argue bail he could make a motion with the court for a bond hearing.
Stander’s wife, Karla Stander, 45, of Bucyrus was also indicted on Monday. She is a co-defendant in the case against her husband. She is charged with four counts of rape, each first-degree felonies and each punishable with up to 11 years in prison, three counts of sexual battery, each third-degree felonies and each punishable with up to 36 months in prison, six counts of endangering children each second-degree felonies and each punishable with up to eight years in prison and four lower counts of endangering children, each third-degree felonies punishable with up to 36 months in prison.
Karla Stander’s bond was set at $2,000,000.00. Attorney Andrew Motter was appointed to represent her.