Rasawehr found guilty of 2 counts

CELINA - A former Mercer County man was found guilty on Friday of menacing by stalking and telecommunications harassment, both first-degree misdemeanors, after originally facing 26 misdemeanor charges.

Jeffery Rasawehr, 54, of Birmingham, Michigan, originally faced 13 second-degree misdemeanor charges of obstructing official business, five charges of menacing by stalking and eight charges of telecommunications harassment, first-degree misdemeanors and was accused of hindering law enforcement efforts and harassing family members.

Judge David Faulkner granted the defense's motions to drop four menacing by stalking charges, five counts of telecommunications harassment and two charges of obstructing official business. Defense attorney Dennis E. Sawan made the motions claiming the prosecution had failed to establish the incidents leading to the charges had occurred in Mercer County. Sawan also made the decision to rest Friday without presenting evidence.

Rasawehr's ex-wife, Pam, the reported victim in the remaining charges, sat with Rebecca Rasawehr, Jeff's mother, as the jury's decision was read. Both had testified for the prosecution. The two nodded as Faulkner announced Rasawehr had been found guilty of one count of menacing by stalking and telecommunications harassment.

Rasawehr gave an audible sigh at the defense table as Faulkner read the jury's decision, which found him not guilty of the 11 counts of obstructing official business and two telecommunications harassment, and his defense team patted him on the back. His ex-wife and mother shook their heads.

Sentencing for the menacing by stalking and telecommunications harassment charges will be decided at a later date yet to be set. Rasawehr remains free on his own recognizance.

At the end of proceedings, Faulkner stated on the record that he was impressed by the attorneys in what proved to be a difficult and emotional case and that they had conducted themselves professionally.