The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Bond continued for convicted stabber
The 29-year-old who stabbed 2 outside of a Wellington bar in 2015 will have seven more weeks of freedom.
The 29-year-old Elyria man who stabbed two people outside of a Wellington bar in 2015 will have seven more weeks of freedom.
Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Mark A. Betleski found Jeremiah K. Donovan guilty of one count of attempted murder, four counts of felonious assault and one count of simple assault in a ruling that was distributed via journal entry April 21.
Betleski expanded on the verdict and continued Donovan’s bond during a status hearing April 24.
At the hearing, Betleski said he intends to sentence Donovan to five years in prison.
While walking the parties through his deliberations on the case, Betleski highlighted the deadliness of the weapon used and the 9-centimeter laceration it left on the male victim’s liver.
“(The knife) by appearance alone, is a deadly weapon,” he said.
Lorain County Assistant Prosecutor Allan Regas
argued against continuing the bond citing the seriousness of Donovan’s crimes.
“This case was extremely serious; it caused serious injury,” Regas said.
Because Donovan had no real motive in attacking the male victim, the
crime was senseless and that makes Donovan even more dangerous to the public, he said.
“That would indicate to the state that Mr. Donovan is extremely dangerous; that this violence was, in effect, senseless and random,” Regas continued.
Regas also noted Donovan is facing a lengthy prison sentence. He also highlighted the deadliness of the weapon used in the attack.
“He is a man that would use that against an essential stranger,” the prosecutor said. “We would ask that the court revoke bond and keep him at the County Jail until sentencing as scheduled.”
Donovan’s attorney, James Burge, argued his client has been seeking mental health treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder since the crime was committed and has been out on bond since 2015 without any attempt to flee justice.
“At this point, I would not believe that he would be a danger to the public, nor is he a flight risk,” Burge said. “Mr. Donovan is reliable.
“In this particular case, even if the court had found Mr. Donovan guilty of count two as opposed to count one, it would still have been a sentence where there is a presumption for incarceration.
“I have spoken with representatives from the VA, most specifically disabled veterans, and it would be my intent with respect to mitigation to employ those individuals as well as Jerry’s VA doctor and his instructors at Cleveland State University.”
Betleski chose to maintain the bond until sentencing, which is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., June 12.