COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Bucyrus man accused of killing four men at their homes in a small, north-central Ohio city has been scheduled for a change of plea hearing after an expert concluded he was competent to stand trial.
Donald Hoffman is expected to plead guilty to aggravated murder Wednesday, days before the start of his trial in the potential death penalty case in Bucyrus.
The judge’s hearing order says a potential plea deal was reached, but it provides no details about the agreement.
Hoffman, 41, earlier pleaded not guilty to 21 charges, including aggravated murder and robbery, in the deaths of Billjack Chatman, Freelin Hensley, Jerald Smith and Darrell Lewis.
The plea arrangement reportedly calls for Hoffman to be sentenced to four consecutive sentences of life in prison without parole. The remaining charges would be dropped.
“I’ve talked with all the family members. We even had some people fly in. I think the biggest issue is a plea allows closure. It severely limits any appeals,” Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall said.
Messages were left Monday for Hoffman’s attorneys.
A coroner determined the four men found dead in early September were beaten, strangled or both. Friends and relatives said at least some of the men knew Hoffman.