Sentencing of former teacher upheld by court

By: 
Larry Limpf

The Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals has upheld the sentencing of a former Vocational-Agriculture teacher and Future Farmers of America advisor at Genoa High School and Penta Career Center employee who pled guilty to one count each of sexual battery and tampering with evidence.
Luke Ryan, 40, filed the appeal, challenging the Ottawa County Common Pleas Court’s compliance with criminal sentencing rules in accepting his guilty plea and the imposition of consecutive sentences.
Ryan entered the guilty plea in the summer of 2021 but filed the appeal last October after the court imposed consecutive prison terms – 60 months for tampering with evidence and 36 months for sexual battery – for a total of eight years. Both charges are third degree felonies.
Common pleas judge Bruce Winters ruled Ryan wasn’t amenable to community control and the consecutive sentences are “necessary to protect the public from future crime and to punish the offender and that consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and the danger the offender poses to the public.”
His appeal contends the common pleas court failed to ensure his plea was “knowing and voluntary, in compliance with” criminal sentencing rules.
Ryan’s appeal argues that “when he voiced some concerns when asked if he understood what the state would have to prove, the court failed to ensure that he understood the nature of the charges.”
He also argued the court didn’t sufficiently weigh his low Ohio Risk Assessment System score that indicated a low risk of recidivism and that he gave up his teaching license and will not be in proximity to students.
Ryan was indicted in September 2019 on three counts of sexual battery. The first count alleged he engaged in sexual conduct with a female student between Dec. 1 and 17, 2014. Count two alleged he engaged in sexual conduct on or about Dec. 31, 2014 “as part of a continuing course of conduct.” The third count alleged the same conduct from March 1, 2015 through April 30, 2015.
He initially pled not guilty but entered a guilty plea in July 2021 to the second count and counts one and two were dismissed as part of a plea deal. He also pled guilty to the tampering charge.
Judge Winters also ruled Ryan would have to register as a Tier 3 sexual offender and would be subject to post release for five years after serving his prison term

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