Friday, June 14th, 2019
Rasawehr sentenced
Judge issues five years community control sanctions
By Sydney Albert
CELINA - A former Mercer County man has been sentenced to five years of community control sanctions after he was found guilty of telecommunications harassment and menacing by stalking in May.
As part of the sanctions, Jeffery Rasawehr, 54, of Birmingham, Michigan, may not violate any other laws and have no direct or indirect communications with his ex-wife, Pam Rasawehr. If he fails to comply, he could be incarcerated at the Mercer County Adult Detention Facility for up to 90 days. He will also be required to pay a $1,000 fine and court costs.
Rasawehr had originally faced 26 first-degree misdemeanor charges of menacing by stalking and telecommunications harassment and second-degree misdemeanor charge of obstructing official business. He had been accused of hindering law enforcement efforts and harassing family members.
On May 24, a jury ruled Rasawehr was guilty of only one menacing by stalking charge and one telecommunications harassment charge, both in relation to voicemails and messages he'd left his ex-wife.
During sentencing, Pam Rasawehr addressed the court and said that for the 16 years she had been married to Jeff Rasawehr, he had been a wonderful provider. However, she said his greed for farmland and paranoia that people were out to get him caused a rift between them, and she finally moved out when she could no longer take his verbal abuse. She was concerned her ex-husband would be given only a slap on the wrist, after which he would continue to harass her and her family, which she said has happened in the past.
Jeff Rasawehr declined to address the court.
Judge David Faulkner said while Jeff Rasawehr had caused no physical harm, it was apparent he had deliberately caused substantial mental and emotional harm. As he announced Rasawehr's sentence and said the court would be giving him one last chance to do better, Pam Rasawehr and several of her family members sighed and shook their heads. Faulkner concluded by saying this was Jeff Rasawehr's last chance, and he hoped a word to the wise would be sufficient.
