A Walbridge man has rejected a plea deal that could have meant 41 years in prison instead of a life sentence.
James Lohmeyer, 41, was transported from the jail Tuesday to the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Matt Reger.
He was indicted in September for five counts of rape, all first-degree felonies; two counts gross sexual imposition, one a third-degree felony and one a fourth-degree felony; 10 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, all fourth-degree felonies; disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a fifth-degree felony; and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.
Wood County Assistant Prosecutor Charles McDonald said the offered deal included guilty pleas to three counts of rape, the F3 count of gross sexual imposition and two counts pandering.
Reger said sentencing for that offer was a maximum of 41 years.
Two of the rape charges have sentences of life in prison, he said.
Lohmeyer rejected the offer.
McDonald said the offer was good until Friday.
According to court documents, twice from June 25, 2012, to June 23, 2013, he allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with a 10-year-old.
The F3 gross sexual imposition charge alleges he had sexual contact with this same 10-year-old during that same time frame.
Three times from June 25, 2015, to June 23, 2016, he allegedly purposely compelled the same child to engage in sexual conduct by submitting by force or threat of force.
The F4 GSI charge allegedly occurred in January 2022, when Lohmeyer had sexual contact with the same person by purposely compelling the person to submit by force or threat of force.
From June 25, 2018, to June 23, 2019, he allegedly sold, disseminated, or provided the same person or law enforcement officer posing as a juvenile material that was obscene.
Ten times on June 7, he allegedly bought, possessed or controlled obscene material that had a minor as one of its participants.
From June 2-7, while knowing an investigation was in progress or about to be started, he allegedly concealed or destroyed records or documents in order to impair their value or availability as evidence.
A motion was filed in November questioning Lohmeyer’s competence to stand trial. Reger announced Tuesday that the defendant was found competent.
