A former Bowling Green man, who is in jail for beating a child, has rejected a plea offer that would greatly reduce his incarceration.
Jeremy Mull, 37, was transported Thursday from the North Central Correctional Institution in Marion to the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Joel Kuhlman.
Wood County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Dex Phillips said the state was offering to amend Mull’s charge to assault, a first-degree misdemeanor, and dismiss the repeat violent offender specifications.
Mull was indicted in November on the charge of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, after he allegedly caused serious physical harm to an inmate at the Wood County jail on Oct. 26.
The state’s offer had a maximum jail sentence of 180 months that would be served concurrently to any current prison time, Phillips said.
The offer also included the mandate that Mull withdraw his appeal on an earlier sentence, he said.
“It’s the state’s understanding the defendant has rejected that offer,” Phillips said.
Kuhlman said without the plea he could impose a minimum sentence of two-eight years with a maximum of 12 years due to the charge falling within Reagan Tokes Act qualifications.
The repeat violent offender status has a mandatory prison term of one-10 years, he said, for a total possible sentence of 18-22 years.
Mull has been in jail since September 2021 after being sentenced in December to 12-16 years for two counts of endangering children and one count of domestic violence.
He beat an 8-year-old so badly in August 2021, the boy was rushed to Toledo Hospital with difficulty breathing due to the trauma to his face. These injuries caused temporary and serious disfigurement and incapacity.
Mull was classified as a repeat violent offender.
He has appealed that sentence.
Defense attorney Kati Tharp asked for a trial date after the appeal is concluded, which could be a year or more.
“It is more than likely going to be overturned,” she said about Mull’s current sentence.
Once that appeal is won, the repeat violent offender specification attached to the recent charges becomes moot, Tharp said.
Phillips opposed that request, stating that as time goes by witnesses start to lose their memories or move.
“It’s more difficult to put the case together after several years,” he said.
He also cited Marsy’s Law, which gives the alleged victim the right to a speedy trial. The alleged victim has objected to postponing the trial for a possible two years.
“He’s invoking his right to a speedy resolution,” Phillips said.
“I won’t delay on the possibility (of an appeal),” Kuhlman said.
A status pretrial was set for June 1, at which time the window closes on the state’s plea offer.
Mull said he did not the deal.
“I’m determined to go to trial,” he said.
The trial was scheduled for Aug. 14-15.
