The sentencing in a rape case Tuesday devolved at times into a nearly “circus”-like atmosphere as both
the defendant and his wife made multiple outbursts that interrupted the proceedings.
Wood County Common Pleas Court Judge Alan Mayberry on Tuesday ordered Millbury resident Lucas T. Dezanett
to serve 16 years in prison during the matter.
Dezanett was immediately taken into custody following the hearing.
The 38-year-old man originally entered an Alford plea in January to felony rape and sexual battery
charges. Such a plea does not admit guilt, but acknowledges the prosecution has enough evidence to prove
the charges and thus consents to a guilty finding. The plea was made in exchange for dropping additional
charges and reducing the severity of the two charges to which he was sentenced.
Mayberry found him guilty during his original plea hearing, and Dezanett subsequently filed to withdraw
his plea at what was originally to be a sentencing proceeding in February. A hearing on the withdrawal,
taking place in two parts set roughly a week apart, was held in March, and the withdrawal was denied.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, the defendant immediately indicated his desire to appeal the rulings and
requested an attorney be appointed for that purpose.
During the matter, the defendant frequently interrupted the judge and wanted to ask questions regarding
issues already decided in the case.
Prior to sentencing, the judge also dismissed a Pro Se motion (meaning it was filed by the defendant
independently of an attorney) to dismiss the case. That motion was filed on Monday, with the
prosecutor’s office filing its opposition earlier on Tuesday.
Christopher Zografides, Dezanett’s attorney, withdrew his service in regard to that specific motion.
In dismissing the motion, Mayberry called it “utterly and totally devoid of any merit.”
As the defendant interrupted, the judge reminded him “there is no legal basis for this motion and you
entered a plea of guilty. We are not going to retry the case. You are out of order at this point.”
The proceedings began with one court constable in the room, but as Dezanett became more and more
argumentative, three additional constables and a Wood County Sheriff’s deputy were all in the courtroom.

The prosecuting attorney in the case, Aram Ohanian, requested an agreed upon sentence of 14 years in
prison. He also noted the defendant’s repeated denials, stating, “The saddest thing is being forgotten
that a child was sexually abused and raped.”
He noted Dezanett “used this child as his toy.”
At that statement, the defendants wife, Joanna, who had earlier addressed the court to try and mitigate
the sentence for Dezanett, created an outburst.
“This is a court proceeding, not a circus,” Mayberry announced, warning her she could be removed.
Ohanian added “That child is now scarred for life because of Lucas Dezanett.”
The judge reminded the convicted felon how he has not taken any responsibility nor shown any remorse for
his actions.
According to court records, the incidents to which Dezanett entered the Alford plea involved actions
alleged between Oct. 31, 2010, and Oct. 30, 2011. The victim was 12 years old during that period.
Mayberry said he reviewed the letter Dezanett had written the victim.
“It was written like a boyfriend-girlfriend letter by a man who was upset he was rejected by his
girlfriend. Except the girlfriend was a child,” the judge said in a stern corrective tone.
After explaining to Dezanett his obligations to register as a Tier III sexual offender – a lifetime
requirement to register – the defendant refused to sign the papers related to registration.
Joanna Dezanett told Mayberry when given her chance to speak, “My husband is innocent, everyone is
railroading him. He was pressured into signing it (the plea). Now everyone is attempting to sweep all
the facts under the rug.”
The judge told her, “I’ve heard all that six times. You are not listening. He pled guilty and you’re
sweeping that under the rug.”
Mayberry ordered five years in prison on the sexual battery count, a third-degree felony, and 11 years on
the first-degree rape charge. He further ordered the sentences be consecutive as “any single sentence
would not be sufficient to punish the offender nor deter others.”
Following the proceedings, Ohanian stated he remains extremely saddened due to the lack of protection for
the young victim.
Dezanett’s previous motion to withdraw his plea centered around discovery evidence which was allegedly
not made available to the him, and the fact that he felt he was pressured into entering the plea
agreement by his previous attorney. At the hearing on that motion, Ohanian stated to the court, “The
only reason we’re here is buyer’s remorse.”
The judge dismissed the withdrawal motion within a week of hearing the testimony and arguments.
(Staff writer Peter Kuebeck contributed to this story.)