By Kathy Laird
CCN Correspondent
BUCYRUS — Matthew Kunzer, 34, of Bucyrus was sentenced to six years in prison Friday.
Kunzer appeared before a visiting judge from Wayne County to be sentenced. Kunzer appeared with attorney Andrew Motter. Special prosecutor Micah Ault represented the state of Ohio.
Judge Robert Brown asked Kunzer if he had anything he would like to say.
Kunzer told the judge, “I have a lot to say, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Even though he did not speak on his behalf, Kunzer continuously spoke out in court.
Motter spoke on behalf of his client. He told the court he has tried to get him into in-patient treatment with the VA since he was first in trouble in Municipal Court. The VA reportedly did not cooperate. Motter told the court that a lengthy prison sentence would not help Kunzer but he needs intense mental health treatment.
“He comes across as dangerous, but he needs in-patient treatment,” Motter said.
Kunzer became especially agitated when Municipal Court Judge Shane Leuthold attempted to make his victim impact statement.
Leuthold read a long list of names of judges who had been killed by what he called “defendants just like Mr. Kunzer.”
Kunzer laughed at Leuthold when Leuthold told the court he was scared of Kunzer. Leuthold explained that no amount of security could protect him and his family. He referred to a letter sent to him and his brother by Kunzer and addressed to the“Leuthold Sisters.”
Leuthold tried to read from the letter.
“He has threatened to rape me and my children. He has threatened to kill me. He has said he is going to spoon out my flesh with a hot rusty spoon and water board me. And he’s said all this while he was awaiting sentence in this case. Am I afraid of Mr. Kunzer? You bet I am,” Leuthold said. “There’s no amount of security to protect my family. What am I supposed to tell my children? Am I supposed to show them a picture of Kunzer and tell them to run if they see him? That is not acceptable. I would ask the court to give him a sentence of 25 years; that’s not even the maximum sentence. By then I’ll be retired and out of here. If you give him less, you will leave this community, but I and my family will have to deal with him when he is released from prison.”
Leuthold went on to tell the court that he did not know how to protect his children from the rapists Kunzer said he is recruiting in prison.
Kunzer then shouted out in the court, “I’ve got them ready!”
Brown told Kunzer to compose himself. Brown threatened several times to have Kunzer removed, but never did.
Referring to his outburst, Leuthold told the court, “He has no respect for me. He has no respect for you. I saw how he behaved in court during his trial and he could not control himself.”
Motter objected to the continuation of the reading from the letter noting that it had been seen in chambers. Leuthold told the court that he wanted the community to know what they are in store for if Kunzer comes back into the community.
Brown agreed with Motter, noting that he had been on the bench for 35 years and that he had dealt with threats against him and his own family. He told Leuthold he had read the letters in chambers and had taken them into consideration. A visibly frustrated Leuthold sat down in the court while Kunzer continued to laugh at him and make inappropriate gestures to the him.
Lastly, Brown turned to Micah Ault for the state’s recommendation for sentencing. Ault told the court that Kunzer had been found guilty on 19 charges, with 15 of those being felonies.
Ault asked the court to sentence Kunzer on the 10 counts of intimidation.
“There are six victims in this case. We said from the beginning that Mr.Kunzer had a plan; he still has a plan,” Ault said. “He has expressed it in more detail with each letter. We have a duty to protect public servants who are doing their jobs in our service every day. There is every indication he intends to carry these plans out. He has made threats from Wood County. He has assaulted officers. We must protect the community,”
Facing a possible 30 years in prison, Brown assured Kunzer he would be appointed an attorney for appeal purposes at no charge. He also said that the Veteran’s Administration did not come through in this case.
Then, to the surprise of many in the courtroom, Brown sentenced him to only six years in prison. Kunzer could be heard laughing as he was led out of the courtroom.
After the verdict, Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall thanked the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for their cooperation in the case. Special prosecutors and judges are called in to preside in hearings when judges or court personnel are victims of crime. Crall said it is his goal to provide as much safety and assurances to victims as possible and to keep them and their families safe.
He said he hoped this sentence would provide an example to others thinking of trying the same thing.
When asked if he felt the sentence was harsh enough, Crall said, “No sentence for something like this will ever be enough.”
Leuthold had a very strong opinion of what went on in the court room. He explained that he felt that he had not been heard as a victim. He said he did not believe Brown read the letters or gave them much consideration.
“He comes in here from Wayne County, makes this ruling and then he’s out of here. Our community will now have to deal with him when he is released,” Leuthold said.
Leuthold said Brown disregarded the sentencing guidelines in this case. One guideline in sentencing says that you must take the condition of remorse into consideration when sentencing.
“He showed no remorse, in fact he was proud of what he has done,” Leuthold said.
According to Marcie’s Law, victims may appeal the sentences given in these cases. Leuthold said he was not sure what he would do in this case.
“This was a bad decision but a legal sentence. A legal sentence is very hard to get overturned,” Leuthold said.
Leuthold noted that in his time on the bench he has rarely been so disappointed with the outcome of a case.
“This was an embarrassment to justice. If you don’t think he (Kunzer) will come out of prison and not be a threat to us you’re crazy,” he said.
Kunzer will be sentenced soon in Crawford County Common Pleas Court. He is facing a maximum of 36 months in prison on two counts of intimidation. Judge Sean Leuthold will sentence Kunzer in the next hearing.
Crawford County Now asked Special Prosecutor Ault for a statement. He declined and referred us to his media office for an official statement.
ORIGINAL POST:
BUCYRUS — Judge Robert Brown, a visiting judge from Wayne County, sentenced Matthew Kunzer, 34, of Bucyrus to six years in prison for a group of felonies and misdemeanor charges that left him facing 30 years in prison.
One of the victims of Kunzer’s intimidation, Crawford County Municipal Court Judge Shane Leuthold, tried to give a statement to the court regarding threats made by Kunzer to Leuthold’s family. Leuthold was subject to continued insults from Kunzer as Leuthold tried to address the court.
Brown also continuously interrupted Leuthold preventing him from making his full statement to the court.
Leuthold told Brown, “Am I scared of Mr. Kunzer? You bet I am.”
Leuthold read a long list of judges who had been murdered by defendants he said were like Kunzer.
In recent days, while awaiting sentencing, Kunzer sent more letters addressed to the “Leuthold Sisters,” containing more detailed threats and plans.
An article with full details on the sentencing, including the most recent letters written by Kunzer and statements by Brown and other officials during the hearing will be updated on Crawford County Now.