Former Sandusky County Sheriff Kyle Overmyer pleads guilty

FREMONT — Former Sandusky County Sheriff Kyle Overmyer is no longer a certified peace officer, instead he took the title felon after pleading guilty to 14 criminal counts in county court Tuesday.WATCH the hearing hereHe could be sent to prison for more than 14 years in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 3.Visiting Judge Patricia Cosgrove asked Overmyer if he understood that as a convicted felon his employment as a sheriff would be stripped from him, he would lose his certifications and he could never again be a peace officer."I do," he said, slightly nodding his head.Overmyer, 42, spoke so softly as he responded "guilty" to each of the 14 charges that only the judge and those right next to him could hear him. Thirteen of the charges he plead out to are felonies; one is a misdemeanor. "I am pleased with 14," special prosecutor Carol O'Brien said after the hearing. "I think the plea deal accurately reflects the scope of the conduct."He could receive a minimum sentence of probation or as much as 14½ years in prison.All six police chiefs — Clyde Chief Bruce Gower, Gibsonburg Chief Paul Whittaker, Bellevue Chief Mark Kaufman, Green Springs Chief Charles Horne, Woodville Chief Roy Whitehead and former police Fremont Chief James White — attended Tuesday's court hearing. They were the first to bring forward allegations that Overmyer was stealing drugs from drop boxes at police stations.They were unable to comment after Overmyer's guilty pleas because a court gag order still in place.Eric Burdine, whose brother Craig Burdine died while in custody at the Sandusky County jail in 2007, said he felt it was important for him to be there to witness Overmyer plead guilty."They (sheriff's deputies) gave my brother, me and my family a life sentence," Burdine said.He said he plans to mail a victim impact statement to the court that he hopes Cosgrove will see before she decides Overmyer's sentence,Overmyer was appointed sheriff in 2008 to fulfill the remaining term of Sheriff David Gangwer, who died unexpectedly. He was then elected in November that year to the office as one of the youngest sheriff's to hold that office.Now he made history again in a different way: As one of few sheriffs arrested, convicted and forced to leave the office in disgrace.Also at the hearing was acting Sandusky County Sheriff Tim Wiersma."This is good closure for the county. The sheriff's department can move forward," Wiersma said.During the investigation and hearings there has been speculation such as whether the allegations were true, he said."When I got there, there was a huge storm. They did not know what would happen. This is closure of a huge part of the storm," he said.Sandusky County commissioners also attended Tuesday's hearing, and agreed it was now time for the county to move forward and rebuild the reputation of the sheriff's office.They said they plan to seek compensation for the pay and cost of benefits Overmyer has received while suspended since his arrest in August.Overmyer's attorney's declined to comment after the hearing, citing the gag order.One person not at the hearing was Overmyer's sister, Tracy Overmyer, Sandusky County Clerk of Courts.Cosgrove in earlier hearings called out Tracy Overmyer for leaks in the clerks office that forced the judge to file court documents under seal.Overmyer was ordered held at the Erie County jail until Ottawa County parole authorities could interview him for a pre-sentence investigative report. Cosgrove scheduled his sentencing for 11 a.m. on Dec. 13.Overmyer plead guilty to:Count 3 which states on or about the 17th day of April, 2014 by deception did procure the administration of a prescription for, or the dispensing of Percocet, a Scheduled II controlled substance, a fourth degree felony.Count 11 which states on or about the 19th day of November, 2014 by deception did procure the administration for, or after dispensing of, Hydrocodone, a Scheduled II controlled substance, a fourth degree felonyCount 15 which states on or about the 20th day of January 2015 that by some manner Overmyer by deception did procure the administration of a prescription for, or the dispensing of Percocet, a Scheduled II controlled substance, a fourth degree felony.Count 21 is theft in office which states on or about the 25th day of November 2013 Overmyer by being a public official did commit theft offense, a fourth degree felony.Count 23 is theft in office which states on the 9th of April, 2015 Overmyer by being a public official used his office to commit a theft offense, a fourth degree felony.Count 25 is a theft in office offense which states during Jan. 1, 2009 through Aug. 23, 2016 Overmyer used his office to commit a theft offense, a fourth degree felony.Count 19 is a filing false financial disclosure statement which occurred on April 6, 2015, a first degree misdemeanor.Count 27 is a tampering with records offense which states that on Nov. 25, 2013 Overmyer with purpose to defraud falsified, destroyed, remove or mutilate any writing, computer software, data, or record that belonged to a local government entity, a third degree felony.Count 29 is a tampering with records offense which states that on April 9, 2015 Overmyer with purpose to defraud falsified, destroyed, remove or mutilate any writing, computer software, data, or record that belonged to a local government entity, a third degree felony.Counts 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43 are all theft charges stating Overmyer stole dangerous drugs, all fourth degree felonies.Sandusky County Sheriff Kyle Overmyer is escorted out of the courtroom at Terra State Community College on Tuesday after he pled guilty of 14 counts, including 13 felonies. Gibsonburg police chief Paul Whitaker sits among other representatives from police departments in Sandusky County during Sheriff Overmyer's plea change hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016 at the temporary Sandusky County Court of Common Pleas at Terra State Community College in Fremont. Sandusky County Sheriff Kyle Overmyer enters the courtroom for a plea change hearing at the temporary Sandusky County Court of Common Pleas at Terra State Community College in Fremont on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016. Visiting Judge Patricia Cosgrove talks to Sheriff Kyle Overmyer about his plea change on Tuesday at the temporary Sandusky County Court of Common Pleas at Terra State Community College in Fremont.