A motion to suppress hearing was held in Auglaize County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday at the request of a St. Marys man who is the defendant in a rape case.
Aaron J. Stapleton, 38, of St. Marys, faces 14 total indicted charges: one count of rape, a first-degree felony; one count of sexual battery, a third-degree felony; and 12 counts of gross sexual imposition, all fourth-degree felonies.
On June 17, Stapleton and his defense counsel, Public Defender Gerald Siesel, filed a motion asking the court to suppress any possible incriminating statements made between the time he was arrested and the time he was interrogated. If granted, the motion would ensure that such statements would be excluded from consideration during the jury trial.
Three witnesses were called to the stand to testify. Charla Lauth, a child abuse investigator with Auglaize County Children’s Services, and Sgt. Brian Christopher of the St. Marys Police Department were both actively involved in the detainment and arrest of Stapleton and testified Wednesday after being subpoenaed by the court. Stapleton himself also testified as a witness.
Judge Frederick Pepple made no ruling on the motion to suppress, and a decision will likely be made within the next few weeks. Stapleton is currently in the Auglaize County Jail and is being held on a $100,000 bond with a 10 percent privilege. A jury trial is scheduled for Aug. 15-17.
See Thursday's paper for the full story.