BUCYRUS—Jason Tupps, 46, of Galion, was arraigned in Crawford County Municipal Court on Friday.
Tupps is charged with one count of rape, a felony of the first degree punishable with up to 11 years in prison, and one count of domestic violence, a misdemeanor. Visiting Judge John Ridge presided.
Mansfield attorney James Mayer who represented Tupps a little over a year ago on multiple felony charges appeared via Zoom from the Morrow County Courthouse. Tupps appeared via video from the Wyandot County Jail, where he is being held.
Mayer waived the reading of the indictment against Tupps. Special Prosecutor Drew Wood made a compelling case for a high bond. Wood told the court Tupps is a danger to himself and others.
Woods told the court that the State has had an opportunity to speak with the victim (Tupps estranged wife) and officers investigating the incident.
According to Woods, the victim and Tupps share a home, although they are currently divorcing. The victim reported that Tupps has not worked since he resigned from the Crawford County Jail, where he was a corrections officer. Wood noted that Tupps’ resignation was precipitated by an incident of road rage. Tupps was off duty, held a woman at gunpoint while she lay face down in the road. Officers smelled alcohol on Tupps breath. While Woods acknowledged Tupps had been acquitted of the felony charges, he told the court:” It is undisputed that he held that victim at gunpoint,” Woods said.
The current victim reported that alcohol continues to be a problem for Tupps, and it contributed to the incident that occurred on August 28th. She told prosecutors that Tupps consumes anywhere from six to 24 beers in a day. She reported that Tupps is only sober when in jail or on an alcohol monitor. When the victim was reporting the incident at the police department, Tupps repeatedly called and texted her. When she got home, Tupps pushed her against a wall and demanded to know where she had been. She reported Tupps had threatened her before and told her if he found out she was with another man, he’d kill her. She told police she had hidden her shotgun in the attic after the incident, but Tupps searched until he found it and put it back in its original location in the bedroom.
“The State’s perspective on this case is that all the warning signs are here, and he’s a danger to himself and to the community. He’s had job loss, unemployment, divorce, alcohol abuse, and addiction, PTSD, depression, and anxiety,” Wood said.
Wood told the court that the State would request a $750,000.00 cash bond. Further, Wood requested if Tupps made bond, he’d be under house arrest with a GPS monitor as well as an alcohol monitor. He asked for a sweeping no-contact order with the victim indirectly or directly or any contact at the residence or her place of employment. Woods said the victim made him aware that Tupps’ father is an avid collector of firearms and makes his own ammunition. Woods asked that anyplace he would reside if he makes bail be swept of firearms and ammunition by police or sheriff personnel.
When asked about his position on bond for his client, Mayer told the court they would comply with all monitoring requests and the no-contact order. Mayer told the Judge that although he came into Tupps’ prior case later in the process, his client had no infractions on monitoring during his time on the case. Mayer told the court that media attention in the prior case had made it difficult for Tupps to gain employment. He asked the court for a more reasonable bond. Mayer also pointed out that his client is presumed innocent. He said he was puzzled that an assault that allegedly occurred on August 28th was not reported to police until September 9th.
Before bond could be ruled, Wood told the court that he had omitted a fact in the case. The victim, out of fear, made an audio recording of the assault. Woods said he heard the audio, and her recollection matched the tape.
Judge Ridge agreed with the State’s recommendation and placed Tupps on a $750,000.00 bond with all the conditions the State requested.
A pretrial is scheduled for next Thursday, the 23rd, at 9 am.
