Jeffery Rasawehr, 51, “has continually barraged his family and extended family and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office with threatening and condescending emails, blog posts, voicemails, phone calls and texts” since January 2012, Sheriff Jeff Grey said in a prepared statement released Tuesday afternoon.
He said the sheriff’s and county prosecutor’s offices have tried to work through Rasawehr’s attorney to find a solution. The attempts, the sheriff said, have been met with threats from Rasawehr to sue the sheriff’s office.
“While people have a First Amendment right to free speech, the Ohio Revised Code prohibits menacing by stalking, telecommunications harassment, and obstructing official business,” Grey said.
Rasawehr has filed complaints with the FBI, the Bureau of Adult Detention, and Ohio Organized Crime. All of those agencies have concluded there was no wrong doing by the sheriff’s office or its employees and have closed their cases, Grey said in the statement.
The investigation is continuing, he said, so it is possible more charges will be filed.
According to the sheriff’s office, Rasawehr has been charged with the following:
- Five counts of menacing by stalking,
- Eight counts of telecommunications harassment,
- And 13 counts of obstructing official business
According to the sheriff’s office, menacing by stalking and telecommunications harassment are misdemeanors carrying a possible penalty of six months in jail on each count. Obstructing official business is a misdemeanor carrying a possible three months in jail for each count.
Because of the ongoing threat of litigation, Grey said, the sheriff’s office will have no further comment about the case or the investigation.
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