A Stark County man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a reduced felony charge in a strange case involving orange juice and a bodily fluid.

CANTON A 72-year-old man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a reduced felony charge for contaminating a woman's orange juice with his bodily fluid.

Willis G. Burdette, of Tuscarawas Township, was originally indicted on a charge of contaminating substance for human consumption, a first-degree felony, and burglary, a third-degree felony.

As part of a plea agreement, the more serious charge was reduced to attempted felonious assault, a third-degree felony. Burdette also pleaded guilty to the burglary count. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 18 before Stark County Common Pleas Judge Kristin Farmer.

According to arrest records, Burdette entered a home in the 1300 block of Concord Street NW in Jackson Township shortly after midnight on Aug. 10 by using a key from a shed on the property. While inside the home, Burdette masturbated into the homeowner's bottle of orange juice. He then closed the bottle and returned it to the refrigerator, according to Stark County Jail records.

His actions were recorded on the home's video surveillance, said Joe Vance, assistant Stark County prosecutor.

Vance said the home security system alerted the woman to someone entering her home. She later watched surveillance video footage and saw Burdette committing the act.

Burdette had done landscaping work at the woman's home, Vance said. Vance and Burdette's attorney, Jacob Will, both said there had been no personal or romantic relationship between the man and woman. The woman did not drink the tainted juice.

The first-degree felony was not the appropriate charge, Vance said. The contaminating substance for human consumption charge is intended for terrorism cases and involves biological agents and toxins, he said. No law is on the books in Ohio that specifically pertains to nature of Burdette's case, Vance said.

"I expect (the prosecutor's office will) talk to (legislators) in Columbus and suggest this is something they look at," he added.

"We arrived at this (attempted felonious assault) charge as a compromise," Vance said. "Clearly this conduct was beyond inappropriate."

Will said his client has no prior criminal record. A presentencing investigation will be conducted prior to the court hearing early next year.

"He is and continues to be remorseful for what happened," the defense attorney said of Burdette.

Farmer said she will consider sentencing Burdette to probation. He faces up to three years in prison on each felony charge.

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