A Toledo man has rejected a plea deal and will be tried for rape.
Jared Sutphin, 23, appeared Feb. 7 in the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Matt Reger.
Beth Tischler, a prosecutor from Sandusky County, said a plea to third-degree felonious assault was discussed and rejected.
A special prosecutor was requested because of a personal association that one of the individuals involved has with a member of the Wood County Prosecutor’s Office.
Sutphin was indicted in March for felonious assault, a second-degree felony; rape, a first-degree felony; and gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony.
Tischler said the deal included the remaining two charges be dismissed and the removal of the sexual classification that would have required regular reporting.
On June 2, Sutphin is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with a woman by purposely compelling her to submit by force, in this case a knife. For the GSI charge, he is accused of having sexual contact with the woman by compelling her to submit by force or threat of force.
Reger said that if Sutphin pleaded guilty to the felonious assault, he would face a sentence of up to eight years.
A sexual motivation specification on the charge would be dropped with a guilty plea.
If found guilty of rape at trial, the sentence could be 11-16.5 years plus a lifetime registration every 90 days as a Tier III sexual offender, Reger said.
There could be an added eight years for the assault and 18 months for the sexual imposition, he said.
“Anything can happen in a jury trial,” Reger said.
Defense attorney Katie Tharp mentioned a motion to suppress the results of a cell phone search due to the differing times on the paperwork.
The court denied that motion.
“It was properly executed,” Tischler said.
The trial will start Wednesday.
