Crescent-News.com - First of three defendants to be sentenced on northside shooting incident gets prison term

By TODD HELBERG

cnedit@crescent-news.com

The first of three defendants sentenced for a northside shooting incident will be going to prison.

Jordan Stutz, 19, 715 Leever Ave., was given a four-year sentence Tuesday by Defiance County Common Pleas Court Judge Joseph Schmenk on a charge of complicity in the commission of improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation, a second-degree felony. He was also given credit for time served at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio, rural Stryker, since his arrest on Sept. 30.

Stutz had pleaded guilty to the charge on Feb. 11.

His sentencing had been delayed while the trial of one co-defendant, Mongkhon Sunanthapradit, 21, 1610 Woodhurst Drive, was pending. However, Sunanthapradit entered Alford guilty pleas -- maintaining his innocence but given in his "best interest" -- on June 19 to felonious assault and improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation, each a second-degree felony.

Sunanthapradit is scheduled to be sentenced July 29 while another co-defendant, Matthew Grafton, 20, 701 Webster St., is set for sentencing next Wednesday on a charge of complicity in the commission of improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation, a second-degree felony.

Grafton and Stutz had agreed to testify against Sunanthapradit at trial.

In following the sentencing recommendation of assistant county prosecuting attorney Carson Slade, Schmenk took that promise into account. But he referred to the incident as an "incredibly dangerous situation."

According to authorities, Stutz provided Sunanthapradit with a handgun that the latter defendant fired six times into the 226 Greer St. residence of Luke Dillon on Sept. 30. Slade told the court Tuesday that one bullet "narrowly" missed a 16-year-old girl.

Slade said Stutz had a problem with Dillon over a woman.

Stutz's attorney, Joe Benavides of Lima, said his client was also under the influence of alcohol when the incident occurred.

"His emotions and immaturity got the best of him," said Benavides, adding that the aforementioned woman "was manipulating him."

However, Benavides said Stutz's recognizes "the danger and gravity of the situation. Jordan clearly understands his conduct was inappropriate. ... He's remorseful over this."

Benavides recommended that the judge follow the state's four-year prison recommendation.

Asked to make a statement, Stutz initially said no, then explained that "I have thought about this situation a lot. It's not something I would wish on anyone's family. I'm sorry for what I did and I accept my responsibility. I accept the consequences."

Just before pronouncing sentence Schmenk said, "You basically have a drunken teen-ager who can't control his emotions with access to firearms." He said the combination of emotions and alcohol created an "incredibly dangerous situation."

While Sunanthapradit fired the handgun, Slade noted that Stutz was the "catalyst" for the incident.

"Although Mr. Stutz was not the shooter, he was the catalyst for everything that occurred," said Slade. "He was the one with the motive and the grudge against Luke Dillon, and he provided the gun to (Sunanthapradit)."