Man, 81, sent to prison for 'heinous' sex crime

"I still love her," man tells judge, referring to victim - a teenage female relative.
Cary Ashby
Feb 27, 2014

"It's a heinous crime. You're going to have to come to terms with that."

That's what Huron County Common Pleas Judge Jim Conway told defendant Robert E. Shultz during Thursday's sentencing hearing. The Greenwich man pleaded guilty in mid-January to one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. He said Thursday he was "completely sorry" for taking up the court's time, but as far as what happened, Shultz claimed he was "still unaware."

"I still love her," he said.

Shultz, 81, of 11 W. Union St., is convicted of inappropriately touching a teenage female relative in November 2012. He was sentenced Thursday to four years in prison -- one year short of the maximum for the third-degree felony.

"I take a serious stance against this," Huron County Prosecutor Russell Leffler said.

Shultz ultimately blamed the victim, Leffler said, but to his credit, he told police "he felt bad" and knew what he did was wrong.

"There is not much good you can say about this," Leffler said. "Apparently you're never too old to make a complete fool of yourself.

"I don't think a five-year prison sentence is warranted here," added Leffler, who recommended two or three years.

The Greenwich Police Department began investigating the case after Richland County Children Services contacted Chief Steve Dorsey in April. The girl reported having sexual conduct with two men, one of whom is a 76-year-old Ashland County suspect. The Richland County Sheriff's Office handled the other case.

"She has been victimized by another elderly man," Leffler said about very serious charges in Richland County. "I think it was considerably more extensive than this incident."

Nova resident James F. Basham Sr. faces multiple sex-related felonies through Richland County Common Pleas Court. According to court records, he is charged with eight counts of rape, four charges of compelling prostitution and three counts of gross sexual imposition. Basham also faces one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. His jury trial is April 7.

"She is continuing attending counseling -- as much as two or four times a week," Conway said about the "low functioning" victim who suffered significant physical and psychological harm.

"She is acting out. She is cutting (herself)," added the judge, who said those behaviors are expected to continue for many years.

In November, Officer Aaron Smith testified about a nearly 31-minute-long interview he did with Shultz at the police station April 5 in which he admitted he inappropriately touched the 15-year-old Richland County girl, Shultz's relative. The videotaped interview was shown to the court during a hearing about suppressing evidence.

Conway told Shultz he hasn't taken responsibility for what happened.

"It clearly happened. ... It's not a one-time thing," the judge said. "You threatened the victim if she told (anybody) what happened."

Defense attorney James Joel Sitterly called the circumstances bizarre and said it's highly unlikely something similar would happen again. He also said Shultz's doctor recommended against a prison term since he believes it would aggravate his various health problems.

"It (the crime) was an isolated incident. It occurred around November 2012," Sitterly said.

"This is someone who has had a very positive impact on everyone around him," he said. "There is no criminal behavior. There is nothing to report in my client's past."

Two family members and a long-time friend spoke passionately about Shultz's character Thursday.

Bill Rowe has known Shultz since 1967. Rowe called the defendant "an exemplary person" who has helped his 44 employees personally and professionally.

"I'm proud to have had this relationship that stood the test of time," Rowe said.

Shultz's granddaughter, who is a teacher in South Dakota, wrote a letter that Shultz's wife read to the judge. She said it's difficult to fathom how this situation happened and she never felt uncomfortable around him.

"I've never questioned his love or his intentions," the granddaughter wrote in the letter. "I always felt safe around him."

Another granddaughter who was in court Thursday said Shultz made every effort to stay in touch with her even though they lived far apart.

"In the 25 years I've known him, he's been nothing but a kind and gentle person," she said. "If you sentence him to prison, you might as well dig his grave."

Shultz, who was fined $5,000, put his forehead on a hand that rested on the table before him as the judge announced his sentence. The defendant appeared to cry quietly several times as Rowe, his wife and granddaughter spoke. Conway took a recess for Shultz to complete the Tier II sex offender registration form and so the defendant could collect himself.

Once he is released from prison, Shultz will be on five years of parole. He will have to register his address with the sheriff's office every six months for the next 25 years and is prohibited from living within 1,000 feet of a school, preschool or daycare center.





" I take a serious stance against this." How about five years? "Well not that serious. 2-3 years should be sufficient." Probably Cuz gramps still "loves her".


How can you defend this man Aimee? Even if he is your grandfather. Look what he has done to your cousin.


i do not condone with what this guy has done and i think the sentence is appropriate but it seems only the older or mental disable people (weaker links) get the appropriate sentence and others get plead down to almost nothing. if it seems the sex and drug crimes never go away in this county, your right, because of crappy plea deals they're right back on the street doing they're crap again. time to get rid on leffler and conway let them go destroy another county; other counties don't put up with this crap why should we


Actually you're not correct. In Sandusky county a person can commit mutiple sex crimes, can be found to be a sexual predator (the most serious classification) and end up with no jail or prison time. Link:


Dementia victims sometimes touch people inappropriately, but rape! He has to have some prior history of conduct like this, does he suffer from dementia? He really has messed up ,his whole family will never be the same again. This is a crime no matter how old you are.I hope the victim knows that she is innocent and that most people are good and that we want her to know that we are behind her.


Queen - this fellow was not charged with rape, was not convicted of rape, and received a rather severe sentence for what he confessed to. If you carefully read the story the fellow in Richland County is the person charged with 4 counts of compelling prostitution and other sexual offenses. Perhaps he should be blamed for much of the harm to the victim.


Ohiogirl99: "other countries don't put up with this why should we?". Well.. we shouldn't most countries would be'head this man. People who steal a pack of gum from store get stoned to death. So I don't know why this man is alive right now...

Bill Hilly

He gets free health care now


not too old to let bubba feel his leg. nasty :(


He probably won't make it out of prison anyways.