Leugers gets 25 years to life

CELINA - David Ray Leugers, Coldwater, was sentenced on Monday to 25 years to life in prison for two first-degree felony counts of raping a girl under the age of 13.

Leugers, 36, was convicted after his April 24-25 bench trial in Mercer County Common Pleas Court. The charges included the specification that Leugers had used force or the threat of force against the then-10-year-old girl to commit the crimes. While announcing the verdict in the case, Judge Jeffrey Ingraham said the stipulation had been proven because at the time of the incident Leugers far outweighed the victim and had used the weight of his body to force the victim to submit.

Leugers maintained his claims of innocence at the sentencing. His attorney, Joseph Benavides, read a lengthy statement from Leugers. In the statement he said he couldn't explain the reason why the rape accusation had been made, but he was sorry the victim had gone through the ordeal. Both the victim and Leugers were seen wiping tears from their eyes during the statement.

Benavides called five witnesses, including Leugers, who claimed he was sleeping in the next bedroom with his girlfriend at the time of the incident.

Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney Matthew K. Fox called 10 witnesses, including the victim and members of her family. Ingraham, when handing down the verdict, had called the victim's testimony "credible" and "competent."

Ingraham sentenced Leugers to 25 year to life for each of the two charges but ordered they be served concurrently.

"The crime is certainly heinous in nature," he said. "The defendant does have a minimal criminal history. The age of the victim is certainly a consideration. The court does not believe that consecutive prison sentences of 25 years to life on the two counts is necessary to protect the public from the defendant."

Leugers was ruled to be a class 3 sexual offender and after release from prison must register his home address and place of work with law enforcement every 90 days for the rest of his life.

He also must serve five years of post-release control. He was given credit for 408 days already served in custody on the charges. His attorney said Leugers intends to appeal.