Butler sentenced to three years in prison
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A former member of the Highland County Board of Elections and Hillsboro Planning Commission has been sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay $200,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to stealing money from a local church.
Dennis Butler, 68, of Hillsboro, pleaded guilty March 4 to one count of theft in Highland County Common Pleas Court.
Butler was indicted by a Highland County grand jury in November. The indictment was the result of an investigation by detectives with the Highland County Sheriff's Office into allegations that Butler was embezzling money from a Concord Township church, the Sugartree Ridge Church of Christ, where he had been serving as treasurer for a number of years.
Visiting Judge Steven Beathard sentenced Butler to three years in prison April 6 and ordered him to pay $200,000 in restitution to the Sugar Tree Ridge Church of Christ. According to the entry of confinement the "offense related to public office/position held; position obligated to offender to prevent it or bring those committing it to justice; or offender's reputation/position facilitated crime or likely to influence others."
He was ordered to begin serving the sentence immediately. He was given one day of jail time credit.
Butler was represented by Hillsboro attorney David Pence.
A jury trial had been scheduled to begin March 4, but a plea agreement was reached. As a result of the plea agreement, the state of Ohio dismissed a count of tampering with records, a felony of the third degree.
David Henry, of the Highland County Prosecutor's Office, recommended that Butler be sentenced to two years in prison, and pay $200,000 restitution. He also recommended Butler be eligible for judicial release after "the appropriate amount of time."
Beathard accepted the plea and ordered that a presentence investigation take place.
Following the March 4 hearing Ronnie Purdin and Chad McConnaughey, representatives from the Sugartree Ridge Church of Christ, spoke briefly with the Highland County Press on the proceedings.
When asked if the church was satisfied with the plea agreement, Purdin said, "We're not sure yet. We leave it to the court to do its thing. I put my faith in God and in the judge."
During the time period of the theft, Jan. 1, 2003 to Sept. 1, 2009, Butler was working as a local insurance and investment agent. Part of the theft case involved misappropriation of funds from annuities owned by the church that Butler managed as an investment advisor. Butler turned himself into the Sheriff's Office on Nov. 4, 2009, and was arraigned in Highland County Common Pleas Court via video arraignment, where he was given a $10,00 bond.
A former member of the Highland County Board of Elections and Hillsboro Planning Commission has been sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay $200,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to stealing money from a local church.
Dennis Butler, 68, of Hillsboro, pleaded guilty March 4 to one count of theft in Highland County Common Pleas Court.
Butler was indicted by a Highland County grand jury in November. The indictment was the result of an investigation by detectives with the Highland County Sheriff's Office into allegations that Butler was embezzling money from a Concord Township church, the Sugartree Ridge Church of Christ, where he had been serving as treasurer for a number of years.
Visiting Judge Steven Beathard sentenced Butler to three years in prison April 6 and ordered him to pay $200,000 in restitution to the Sugar Tree Ridge Church of Christ. According to the entry of confinement the "offense related to public office/position held; position obligated to offender to prevent it or bring those committing it to justice; or offender's reputation/position facilitated crime or likely to influence others."
He was ordered to begin serving the sentence immediately. He was given one day of jail time credit.
Butler was represented by Hillsboro attorney David Pence.
A jury trial had been scheduled to begin March 4, but a plea agreement was reached. As a result of the plea agreement, the state of Ohio dismissed a count of tampering with records, a felony of the third degree.
David Henry, of the Highland County Prosecutor's Office, recommended March 4 that Butler be sentenced to two years in prison, and pay $200,000 restitution. He also recommended Butler be eligible for judicial release after "the appropriate amount of time." Beathard accepted Butler's plea and ordered that a presentence investigation take place.
Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey told the Highland County Press April 6 that his office had recommended Butler be sentenced to two years in prison, "based in part on what was indicated the court normally did in these types of cases. I asked the court today to exercise discretion on sentencing law and do the appropriate thing. He was sentenced to three years in prison, and I am fine with that."
Pence declined to comment, saying he did not have his client's permission.
Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey told the Highland County Press April 6 that his office had recommended Butler be sentenced to two years in prison, "based in part on what was indicated the court normally did in these types of cases. I asked the court today to exercise discretion on sentencing law and do the appropriate thing. He was sentenced to three years in prison, and I am fine with that."
Pence declined to comment, saying he did not have his client's permission.
Following the March 4 hearing Ronnie Purdin and Chad McConnaughey, representatives from the Sugartree Ridge Church of Christ, spoke briefly with the Highland County Press on the proceedings.
When asked if the church was satisfied with the plea agreement, Purdin said, "We're not sure yet. We leave it to the court to do its thing. I put my faith in God and in the judge."
During the time period of the theft, Jan. 1, 2003 to Sept. 1, 2009, Butler was working as a local insurance and investment agent. Part of the theft case involved misappropriation of funds from annuities owned by the church that Butler managed as an investment advisor. Butler turned himself into the Sheriff's Office on Nov. 4, 2009, and was arraigned in Highland County Common Pleas Court via video arraignment, where he was given a $10,000 bond.