Accused Thompson Teen Murderer Pleads Not Guilty
Dustin Plottke, the suspected murderer in the 2010 death of Dan Swan, 17, of Thompson Township, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday…
Dustin Plottke, the suspected murderer in the 2010 death of Dan Swan, 17, of Thompson Township, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday morning before Geauga County Common Pleas Judge Forrest Burt.
Plottke, 26, of Rome, Ohio, was indicted July 25 on one count of aggravated murder, two counts of murder and two counts of felonious assault for his suspected involvement in the death of Dan Swan on the morning of July 25, 2010.
Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz recommended Plottke’s bond be set at $1 million.
“The defendant has prior felony convictions,” he said. “He would have been conveyed to prison, a six-year sentence out of Ashtabula for some felony charges there — (breaking and entering), burglary, illegal manufacturing of drugs. He also was recently in this court on a felony breaking and entering. He also has a failure to appear in Ashtabula in 2005.
“Given the charges and the criminal history, the state would recommend a $1 million cash or surety bond.”
Cleveland defense attorney Henry Hilow said whatever bond was set would be moot because Plottke was going to jail and would be unable to post bond.
Burt earlier had appointed Hilow to represent Plottke because the Geauga County Public Defender’s Office already is representing co-defendant Matthew Boone.
The judge adopted the state’s recommendation and set bond at $1 million.
“If, by chance, you get out and if, by chance, you post a bond, you’re going to report to our pretrial release officer,” Burt said. “I think there’s a better chance of winning the lottery … than those two things happening.”
If convicted of the worst offense in the Swan case, Plottke could face up to life in prison without parole and a maximum fine of $25,000.
Plottke and Boone, 23, of Montville Township, were reportedly in a Ford F-150 truck Boone was driving on Sidley Road during the early morning of July 25 when they passed Swan walking on the side of the road.
Plottke allegedly opened the passenger side door, striking Swan, who then fell into a ditch.
Swan got back up and at that point, Boone had turned the truck back around and stopped where Swan was emerging from the ditch.
Plottke then reportedly struck Swan on the back of the head multiple times with a “pipe-like” object, said Sheriff Dan McClelland in a recent press conference.
Boone reportedly scrapped the truck and pipe-like object, the sheriff said, adding the lead on their involvement stemmed from a separate 2012 burglary investigation.
There is no known relationship between the men and Swan. McClelland said it seems to be a crime of opportunity, a random act of violence.
Boone was arraigned last Monday in Judge David Fuhry’s courtroom. He also pleaded not guilty to a seven-count indictment.
His bond was set at $1 million cash or surety.
Both Boone’s and Plottke’s cases have been assigned to Burt.
Burt informed Plottke, however, he would be allowed to transfer his case to Fuhry.
“That’s soley at your election,” Burt said.
