A pair of defendants were sentenced Tuesday, Jan. 2, to lengthy prison sentences by Logan County Common Pleas Court Judge Kevin Braig for sex-related and violent offenses.
Marvin Peterman, 68, of Lakeview, was sentenced to seven to 10 years in prison for one count of rape, a first-degree felony. He was originally indicted in June of 2022 on two counts of rape and two counts of gross sexual imposition.
At his plea hearing, the court mistakenly informed Peterman the offense was not subject to a mandatory prison term.
Prior to commencing the sentencing hearing, the mistake was corrected and Peterman was informed the offense was subject to a mandatory prison term.
Peterman then reaffirmed his guilty plea to the offense.
In a separate case, Elijah T. Leeper, 22, of Bellefontaine, was sentenced to at least 20 years in prison for multiple violent crimes including attempted murder and felonious assault, first- and second-degree felonies respectively.
In all, Judge Braig sentenced Leeper to between 20 and 26-plus years in prison.
Judge Braig found Leeper to be a repeat violent offender.
In 2020, a Logan County jury convicted Leeper of felonious assault, a felony of the second degree, arising from an altercation with his girlfriend.
Nov. 30 last year, another Logan County jury returned guilty verdicts against him on the attempted murder charge and two felonious assault charges that resulted from an incident that occurred while he was on probation. The court also found Leeper guilty of having weapons under disability and domestic violence and two related firearm specifications.
According to the evidence presented during the trial, Leeper attacked and choked his girlfriend twice at a residence in West Liberty.
The defendant had become intoxicated at a celebration of life party in Bellefontaine, and called his girlfriend who lived in West Liberty. After she picked him up in Bellefontaine and returned to the West Liberty residence, Leeper became agitated and attacked her, choking her twice.
Leeper previously waived his right to a jury trial on charges of having weapons under disability, a felony of the third degree, and domestic violence, a felony of the fourth degree. Based on the evidence presented at trial, Judge Braig found Leeper guilty of those offenses.
