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.
Additional online story on this date
Celina schools
CELINA - School board members approved the plan for the proposed Celina City Schools' building project at Thursday's special meeting.
It next will be sent to the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission for final approval. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
CELINA - County officials will ask the Ohio Department of Agriculture to adopt a plan that would pay farmers in the Western Lake Erie Basin to stop or greatly reduce phosphorus applied to croplands as part of a three-year study.
CELINA - Excessive rains may have played a part in two manure pollution incidents in May, Mercer County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors learned on Thursday.
CELINA - A Minster man pleaded guilty on Thursday to seven charges in relation to incidents at the Mercer County jail, including an inmate's overdose and an attack on two corrections officers.
Chickasaw
CHICKASAW - Village council members on Wednesday passed under suspension of rules an emergency ordinance to place a 3-mill replacement levy on the Nov. 5 election ballot to fund village operations.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency will offer a free webinar on the Dairy Margin Coverage program from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Monday.
NEW BREMEN - Village council members will meet on Monday rather than on their regularly scheduled date of June 24, according to mayor Jeff Pape. A main topic of discussion will be the location of a planned electrical substation.
Local golfers visit Celina for tournament
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Area junior golfers braved the wet and windy conditions at the Celina Lynx to compete in the Lima Junior Golf Associ