BORDERLAND

Toledo man can’t take back guilty plea in rape

5/6/2014

A Toledo man convicted of raping a 9-year-old girl was not allowed to withdraw his guilty plea Monday but instead was sentenced to an agreed-upon term of nine years in prison.

Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Gene Zmuda told Michael Brown, 38, of 1928 Broadstone Rd. he had not met any conditions required to withdraw his Alford plea to two counts of rape but was having “buyer’s remorse.”

Brown entered an Alford plea April 14, which means he did not admit to committing the crime but acknowledged evidence was sufficient for a conviction that could result in a more severe sentence. He could have faced life in prison if convicted at trial. Judge Zmuda classified him as a sex offender who must register his address with the sheriff in the county where he lives every 90 days.