Mark Caudill

Reporter

MANSFIELD -- Everyone had something to say except Mike Garn.

Garn declined to address the court Tuesday before Richland County Common Pleas Judge Brent Robinson sentenced the former Mansfield police officer to 12½ years in prison.

Garn was found guilty on 25 of 34 counts Friday in Richland County Common Pleas Court at the end of a 10-day trial. He was convicted on 12 of 15 counts of misuse of a LEADS law enforcement computer, 10 of 11 counts of dereliction of duty, one count of menacing by stalking, one count of tampering with evidence and a count of sexual battery. All except the dereliction of duty counts are felonies.

"The problem is you became the criminal," Robinson said.

Defense attorney Kimberly Corral said Garn would not address the court because he plans to appeal his conviction.

"He did not know that these (LEADS offenses) were a violation of law," she said. "He denies all other allegations."

A defense request for bond for Garn pending an appeal was denied by the judge.

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Garn could have received up to 21½ years in prison. Robinson hit him with the given sentence in part because he said Garn showed no "genuine remorse."

The judge, First Assistant Prosecutor Cliff Murphy and Assistant Prosecutor Omar Siddiq all said Garn's actions tainted the Mansfield Police Department and law enforcement everywhere.

"The damage done by this defendant is irreparable," Murphy said. "If you're going to wear that uniform, you have an obligation. You took an oath.

"... This defendant has disgraced the uniform. He has set back the image of law enforcement for a long time."

Calling the case an "issue of public corruption," Murphy said prosecutors would not object to the maximum sentence.

Siddiq said Garn preyed on the victims in the case "to serve his own sexual desires."

One of the victims tearfully addressed the court. She testified last week that Garn told her he would discard heroin found in her purse if she would contact him later.

The woman said she lived in fear, not knowing if Garn would use the heroin against her.

"As an addict, I've done many, many wrong things," she said. "We're weak and we're sick, and we're easy prey.

"He was a predator."

Robinson said it is hard for victims to contact police when police are the ones committing the crimes.

Wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, Garn had about 10 supporters in the courtroom. The atmosphere was subdued compared to Friday's sentencing hearing, when family members openly cried over the verdict.

Corral told the judge that Garn has a large and supportive family, including a 9-year-old son.

"He's been a dedicated officer in this community," the defense attorney said.

Garn's 16-year law enforcement career spanned Ashland County, Ashland city and Mansfield.

Kelley Kinney, Garn's sister-in-law, made an impassioned plea for Robinson to show leniency. She referenced Garn's son.

"He's at a very impressionable age," Kinney said. "Right now, this little boy is crushed and absolutely scared to death.

"Please, Judge Robinson, don't take Mike away from his son and his family."

Robinson was not swayed, saying a bad officer is a black eye to all officers. He noted the victims in the case no longer trust cops.

The judge also declared Garn a Tier III sex offender, meaning he will have to register with the county sheriff every 90 days for life when he is released from prison.

After the hearing, Capt. Bret Snavely pointed out that city police are the ones who investigated Garn and took the case to the prosecutor's office.

"The public trust is paramount to all of us and our ability to perform our duties," Snavely said. "We strive daily to earn and maintain the public trust by conducting ourselves in a professional manner and treating people fairly and with dignity."

The former officer, who was served with a termination letter Friday, destroyed drug evidence or didn't submit it to the crime lab in exchange for sexual favors. He also looked up LEADS information for reasons not related to law enforcement. LEADS is a law enforcement database.

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

Twitter: @MNJCaudill