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Rodney Ramthun with attorney Terry Shaw.
Man accused of child porn rejects plea deal.
#OceanaCountyCrime
By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.
HART — A 51-year-old Shelby man currently incarcerated in the Oceana County Jail on a cocaine delivery conviction rejected a plea offer in his child pornography case Monday, Jan. 14, in 27th Circuit Court.
Rodney Alvin Ramthun, of 4080 W. Baker Rd., faces felony charges of possession of child sexually abusive material and fourth-offense habitual offender. Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon offered a plea deal of two to 15 years in prison.
Ramthun’s attorney Terry Shaw made a motion, based on the seizure of his client’s phone, to suppress the phone and its information. “It wasn’t seized pursuant to a search warrant,” Shaw said.
“The phone was analyzed and there was possible child porn on it,” said Judge Robert D. Springstead, who denied Shaw’s motion. “There was a search warrant for the home that included cell phones.”
“Looking at it was done with a search warrant, but the seizure of it was not,” said Shaw.
“They (police) had probable cause to believe there was evidence on the phone,” said Bizon. “They were well within their rights to seize the phone.”
Ramthun was arrested last August stemming from a November 2017 raid of his home by the State, Sheriffs’, Chiefs’ Enforcement of Narcotics Team (SSCENT), which ultimately led to his most recent conviction of cocaine delivery less than 50 grams March 12, 2018.
He was previously convicted in Oceana County of second-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC) April 17, 1995; second-degree CSC April 1, 1996; and felony assault March 21, 2014.
Ramthun is currently serving one year in jail for his drug conviction. Due to his habitual offender status, the maximum penalty for his new charge is elevated to life in prison.
Ramthun avoided a prison term during his sentencing last July on the cocaine conviction. Judge Robert D. Springstead, who also ordered two years probation, said during sentencing: “Two years is a long time to keep your act together. If you make one mistake, you’re going to prison.”
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