Mercer County Prosecutor Erin Minor Explains Plea Deals, Sentencing, and Why Some Cases Look Different From the Outside

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Mercer County Prosecutor Erin Minor joined Kevin Sandler on Spectrum to break down some of the biggest questions the public has about the criminal justice system, especially plea agreements and sentences that people sometimes feel are too lenient.

Minor emphasized that the prosecutor’s office does not decide sentences, explaining that sentencing authority rests with the judge and the court. She said her office’s role is to review investigations, bring charges when they can be proven, and then resolve cases either through a negotiated plea or by taking them to trial.

When it comes to plea agreements, Minor said there are several reasons they happen, and many are driven by victims’ needs. She pointed to a high number of child sexual abuse cases currently being prosecuted in Mercer County and explained the difficulty of putting child victims through the trial process, including repeated retelling of trauma and the possibility of appeals that can drag cases out for years. She also noted that in theft related cases, plea negotiations can sometimes help victims receive restitution faster than waiting through a long court timeline.

Minor also walked through how Ohio law limits sentencing ranges based on offense levels, explaining that courts cannot sentence outside the ranges set in the Ohio Revised Code. She described the system as a triangle with the prosecution, defense, and court, with the judge acting as the referee while each side advocates its position.

The conversation also covered how charging decisions are made. Minor said the prosecutor’s office reviews reports, video, witness statements, and other evidence to determine what can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. She addressed concerns about “stacking charges,” explaining that some charges may be filed in the alternative to give options during negotiations or to ensure a jury can still hold someone accountable even if they don’t agree on one specific charge.

Later, Minor shared a message for parents regarding juvenile trends, warning about teens sharing sexually explicit images and the long term consequences that can come from images being shared or recovered during an investigation.

Minor also explained the difference between cases being declined, dismissed, or reduced. She said prosecution may be declined if evidence does not meet the standard for proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and in some situations a case may be directed to a city law director for misdemeanor level review. She also clarified that dismissals often involve specific charges as part of a plea deal, not the entire case.

Spectrum airs on WCSM and covers topics impacting Mercer and Auglaize Counties.