Former St. Marys police officer pleads guilty to misdemeanor charges involving law enforcement database

A former St. Marys police officer accused of misusing a law enforcement database to track visitors at his estranged wife’s home pleaded guilty Friday to four misdemeanor counts of possessing criminal tools.

Lucas Wessel, 39, of St. Marys, entered the guilty pleas during a hearing before Auglaize County Common Pleas Court Judge Fred Pepple. What had been scheduled as a final pretrial hearing ahead of a March 23 jury trial instead became a change-of-plea hearing after Special Prosecutor Brian Boos of Bowling Green filed a Bill of Information reducing the charges.

Wessel had previously been indicted on fifth-degree felony counts related to misuse of the Law Enforcement Automated Database System (LEADS), a computerized network used by law enforcement agencies for official purposes. Boos said Wessel accessed the database without a legitimate law enforcement reason, using a police computer to run license plate numbers for vehicles parked outside his wife’s residence.

Wessel served nearly 12 years with the St. Marys Police Department before resigning in July. His resignation came after he was placed on administrative leave amid allegations of workplace misconduct.

The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation into the allegations, which ultimately led to the criminal charges.

The misdemeanor charges to which Wessel pleaded guilty carry a maximum possible penalty of 540 days in the Auglaize County jail if the sentences are ordered to be served consecutively, along with fines totaling up to $4,000.

Judge Pepple ordered a pre-sentence investigation and will schedule sentencing at a later date.