BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—Opening arguments commenced today in the Crawford County Common Pleas Court, with a jury consisting of seven men, five women, and two alternates present.
Dakota Craft, a 28-year-old resident of Galion, is facing multiple charges, including felonious assault, improperly discharging a firearm, intimidation of an attorney, victim, or witness, having weapons under disability, and tampering with evidence. Craft is accused of shooting into the home of the Perry family in May of this year.
According to Assistant Prosecutor Dan Stanley, the shooting occurred after an altercation between Kerrie Murphy (a friend of the victim) and Craft’s then-girlfriend, Victoria Loftis. Craft had left his wife and family to live with Loftis at his mother’s house.
On a walk near the Perry home, Murphy and Loftis got into a fight over Loftis’ previous affair with Murphy’s husband. Perry briefly intervened as Craft attempted to strike her friend. The altercation ended and Craft and Loftis returned to his mother’s home.
Two days later, Craft allegedly rode by the Perry home on his bicycle and fired shots into the house as revenge for the fight.
Testimony will continue tomorrow in the Common Pleas Court, presided over by Judge Sean Leuthold.
The state argues that Craft’s actions were prompted by a threatening message he received from Karrie Murphy, which threatened his (Craft’s) girlfriend. The state’s case relies heavily on testimony from Loftis.
The state also plans to present witnesses who will testify that Craft confessed to the crime and was under the influence of drugs and steroids at the time.
Defense attorney Jerry Thompson acknowledged that there were undisputed facts in the case but urged the jury to consider additional facts not presented by the state. Thompson highlighted Craft’s cooperation with law enforcement, including giving them permission to search his garage. He also pointed out that neither Craft nor Loftis were tested for gunshot residue on their hands, despite being located shortly after the shooting. Thompson questioned the reliability of informant testimony and emphasized that Loftis’ story had changed multiple times.