WARNING DISTURBING CONTENT
BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—In a somber and shocking sentencing hearing held Thursday in the Crawford County Common Pleas Court, Judge Sean Leuthold sentenced David Holdcraft, a 31-year-old convicted child rapist currently serving a 22.5-year federal prison sentence, to life without the possibility of parole.
During the hearing, Holdcraft pleaded guilty to three counts of rape involving children under the age of ten.
The courtroom heard an emotional victim impact statement from the father of the victims, who were ages three and six at the time of the crimes. Due to the gravity of the proceedings, Judge Leuthold provided the public with an opportunity to leave the room while he detailed serious and disturbing facts about the case.
In preparation for sentencing, Judge Leuthold reviewed pre-sentence investigations, victim impact statements, and over 15 videos relevant to the case. Those materials were viewed privately, in chambers, with attorneys prior to the hearing. Assistant Prosecutor Dan Stanley described the content of the videos as some of the worst he’s encountered in his career.
As part of a plea agreement, the state agreed to dismiss two lesser felony charges. However, Stanley urged the judge to impose the maximum sentence, emphasizing the importance of ensuring Holdcraft serves his sentence immediately after completing his federal term. Stanley called the federal judge’s prior sentencing of Holdcraft “wildly irresponsible” and challenged the notion that Holdcraft’s plea was a genuine attempt to spare the victims from testifying in court. It was revealed that the federal judge had sentenced Holdcraft to less than the minimum sentence for those crimes.
Stanley highlighted the chilling details of Holdcraft’s predatory behavior, suggesting he deliberately obscured the faces of his victims in video recordings, not out of compassion for them, but for his self-preservation. “Not only did he rape these children, but he was going to perpetuate their rape for financial or personal gain,” he stated.
The father of the victims provided a heart-wrenching account of how Holdcraft ingratiated himself into their family, exploiting their troubled marriage and causing strife all just to gain access to his children. He characterized Holdcraft as a “monster” who meticulously planned his attacks over the years, leading to profound and life-long emotional scars for the family.
Judge Leuthold did not hold back in his assessment of Holdcraft’s actions, drawing from pre-sentence reports indicating Holdcraft’s own experiences of being a victim of abuse by an older classmate. His interest in children further snowballed by looking at medical journals with pictures of children and watching cartoons and videos. Holdcraft’s interest in children evolved over time, escalating into a pattern of premeditated predatory behavior. He recounted how Holdcraft formed a sexual relationship with the children’s mother, engaging in sex in the children’s presence. At one point, the mother and children moved into a property owned by Holdcraft.
Reflecting on the case, Leuthold remarked, “What I witnessed was a premeditated predator committing vile acts that could have been stopped at any time. His behaviors continued to escalate, lacking any empathy, sympathy, regret, guilt, or remorse. He was going to take what he wanted from those defenseless children,” Leuthold said. Leuthold went on to note Holdcraft’s boldness as he committed these acts. In one video, Holdcraft committed a rape while adults could be heard talking outside the door.
The judge ultimately sentenced Holdcraft to three concurrent life sentences, which will take effect after he completes his federal prison term, expected to be approximately 22 years from now. He was also designated a tier III sex offender. Judge Leuthold commended the attorneys involved for their professionalism throughout the harrowing case, particularly acknowledging the efforts of defense attorneys Howard Elliott and Kenzie Garverick. “They did the best they could for their client,” Leuthold said.