Saturday, August 17th, 2013
Local man gets prison for possessing officer's items
By Margie Wuebker
A 38-year-old Fort Recovery man found possessing items stolen from an unmarked sheriff's cruiser is headed to prison.
Paul H. Hiser, 202 Gwendolyn St., was sentenced Wednesday in Mercer County Common Pleas Court to 17 months in prison on a fourth-degree felony count of receiving stolen property, and 11 months in prison on a fifth-degree felony count for receiving stolen property. The sentences will be served concurrently. He received credit for 78 days served during pendency of the case.
Hiser was ordered to pay $1,362.96 to the Mercer County Sheriff's Office and $347.95 to detective Chad Fortkamp, to whom the cruiser was assigned.
"I know all of what I done was stupid," Hiser said prior to sentencing. "I acknowledge what I did and plan to work on my problems."
Defense attorney David Bruns asked that sentences be served concurrently.
Judge Jeffrey Ingraham encouraged Hiser to seriously address his alcohol addiction while in prison, adding it "makes you do things you wouldn't otherwise do."
The presentence investigation ordered by the court showed a high likelihood of reoffending without intervention. Sentencing factors included a lengthy criminal history plus adjudication as a juvenile. Additionally, the offenses occurred while Hiser had another case pending.
The charges stem from a May 23 incident involving the theft of a Remington 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition, a bullet-resistant vest and other items from the trunk of the locked car while it was parked for repairs at Zuma Automotive in Celina.
A sheriff's office investigation led authorities to Hiser, who lived in Celina at the time.
