Former St. Marys officer sentenced for database misuse

WAPAKONETA — A former St. Marys police officer was sentenced Monday to 10 days in jail, with 530 days suspended during 5 years of probation, for improperly accessing a law enforcement database.

According to the The Lima News, Lucas Wessel, 40, of St. Marys, pleaded guilty in Auglaize County Common Pleas Court to 4 first-degree misdemeanor counts of possessing criminal tools. He had originally been indicted on felony counts related to unauthorized use of the Law Enforcement Automated Database System.

Prosecutors said Wessel used a police computer without a legitimate law enforcement purpose to look up license plates of vehicles parked outside his estranged wife’s home. His attorney said Wessel cooperated with investigators and resigned from the St. Marys Police Department during the investigation.

Judge Fred Pepple sentenced Wessel to 180 days in jail on each count, suspending all but 10 days if he complies with probation and domestic relations court requirements. He was also fined $1,000 per count, with $3,000 suspended.

Wessel is scheduled to begin serving his jail sentence Sept. 30.