A Mansfield man takes a plea deal before his trial was set to begin next week on charges from a stabbing incident that happened in March 2024. 30-year-old Rocky Hayner pleaded guilty to the charges of aggravated burglary and felonious assault. He will be sentenced on those charges in January 2025.
A Lima 19-year-old has pleaded guilty to charges involving the shooting death of a 14-year-old girl in February of this year. 19-year-old Malik Dennis pleaded guilty to an amended charge of involuntary manslaughter and shooting a gun into a house, causing the death of Lauralye Sterling. Dennis was originally charged with murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence, but those charges were dropped as part of a plea deal. His lawyers and prosecutors have also agreed to a sentence of a minimum of 25 years and a maximum of 30 and a half years.
A Mercer County man who pleaded guilty to child pornography charges will be sent to a community-based correctional facility that has a program for sex offenders. 38-year-old Dusty Krogman pleaded guilty to 20 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor. As part of a plea deal, 40 other charges he was indicted on were dropped.
July 23, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost: (DELAWARE, Ohio) — The former chief executive officer of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium entered a plea of guilty today ahead of his trial date, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today. As part of the plea agreement, Stalf agreed to pay $315,572.65 in criminal restitution to the Columbus Zoo, State of Ohio and Internal Revenue Service. This amount is in addition to the $400,000.00 of restitution already made on his behalf in 2021.
July 8, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost: (DELAWARE, Ohio) — A former purchasing agent for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium must pay $90,000 in restitution to the zoo after pleading guilty this morning to six felonies and two misdemeanors, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced.
July 2, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost: (DELAWARE, Ohio) — With a trial date looming, the former marketing director for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium pleaded guilty today to 16 felony counts and one misdemeanor, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today. As part of the plea agreement, Pete Fingerhut will pay $675,572.65 in restitution. The amount includes money to be paid to the zoo, along with back taxes to the state of Ohio and Internal Revenue Service.
The final person charged in the 2022 death of Timothy Hovanec in Auglaize County accepted a plea deal to federal charges. Anthony Theodorou pleaded guilty to four charges involving the drug used to kill Hovanec. Theodorou, who is from South Africa, was charged with importing the drug into the United States, having possession of the drug, and distributing it.
A Lima man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a standoff with police last summer. 60-year-old Mark Seffernick was sentenced this morning in Allen County Common Pleas Court. He pleaded guilty to five counts of felonious assault; two of the counts had gun specifications, and all five were felonies of the first degree. Ten other counts were dropped as part of a plea deal.
A Lima woman facing two criminal cases has turned down her plea deal and is set on going to trial. Julia Slayton turned down a negotiated plea offer in Allen County Common Pleas Court that has been on the table since May of last year. In the first case, Slayton has been charged with improperly discharging a firearm into a home or school safety zone with a three year firearm specification.
A Lima man approaching his trial has been offered a plea deal. John Kehoe returned to Allen County Common Pleas Court for a plea offer from the prosecution. He faces three charges of rape. The prosecution has offered him a deal to plead guilty to two amended charges of sexual battery and one charge of rape would be dropped.
