ASHLAND – Ashland man Ryan Sackett was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison for attempted murder.
Sackett, 27, pleaded guilty in February to charges of attempted murder, a first-degree felony, and felonious assault, a second-degree felony.
In exchange for his plea, the Ashland County Prosecutor’s Office agreed to drop a second felonious assault charge as well as a charge of attempted aggravated burglary.
The charges stemmed from a June 2 incident in which Sackett attacked a male victim, stabbing him repeatedly, and also stabbed a female victim.
In arguing for a minimum prison sentence for her client, defense attorney Catherine Meehan told judge Ronald Forsthoefel that Sackett is remorseful and is unlikely to reoffend.
According to Meehan, the victims in the case were Sackett’s ex-girlfriends and the ex’s current boyfriend.
Meehan said the female victim’s injuries were “incidental,” resulting from the victim’s action to enter into the altercation between the male victim and Sackett.
Meehan did acknowledge Sackett has a prior criminal history including assault as a juvenile, underage consumption and criminal damaging. His most recent offense prior to this case was in 2011.
Reading from a prepared statement in court, Sackett cited mental health issues, depression and substance abuse as reasons for his crimes.
“I do not come before the court with a mouthful of excuses. I stand before you ready to take responsibility for my actions and apologize to the people I have hurt,” Sackett said.
He apologized to the victims, to his family and to the community. He also made pledges to remain sober, to maintain his renewed Christian faith and to avoid criminal activity in the future.
“Being incarcerated has shown me what should matter most in my life,” he said.
Forsthoefel responded by saying the defense’s blaming of the victim “makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up” as was not well taken.
The judge also emphasized Sackett’s offense included not just one but multiple stabbings of the victim. For that reason, Forsthoefel said he did not feel a minimum sentence would be appropriate.
Due to a recent change in state law, Sackett will be the first convicted felon in Ashland County to be required to register as a violent offender following his release from prison.
