Former Oregon man charged in murder of father guilty of assault

5/31/2013

The Blade
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Once charged with murder for his father’s death, a former Oregon man was placed on probation for three years Friday for the assault that preceded his father’s heart attack.

Jacob Kutsch, 21, of Maumee was convicted of a misdemeanor count of assault following a one-day bench trial before Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Stacy Cook April 23.

Mr. Kutsch was Initially indicted for murder and then for the less serious charge of involuntary manslaughter. His attorney, Jerome Phillips, argued that, while Mr. Kutsch had been in a verbal and physical altercation with his father, John Kutsch, 58, on the day he died, Nov. 3, the elder Mr. Kutsch actually died from undiagnosed heart disease.

“This is probably one of the sadder cases I’ve been involved in, where an individual not only witnesses the death of a loved one but then is blamed for that death,” Mr. Phillips said.

He pointed out that Mr. Kutsch spent 72 days in jail after he was indicted for murder.

Mr. Kutsch declined to make a statement when asked by Judge Cook.

Judge Cook told Mr. Kutsch the court did not hold him responsible for his father’s death but neither did it condone bad or aggressive behavior. The father and son reportedly had been arguing over computer usage when the quarrel became physical.

“There was nothing about what was presented with regards to the assault that this court can attach in any way to the death of your father,” Judge Cook said.

She ordered Mr. Kutsch to undergo mental health treatment, drug and alcohol treatment, and to have regular drug screens. She said he could pay off his court costs by performing community service.