Defendant asks to take back plea
Staff writer
A Marion woman who struck a plea deal resolving charges in 10 cases filed since 2020 will have a hearing July 18 to see whether she can withdraw her pleas before sentencing.
Rexana J. Siebert pleaded no contest Jan. 28 to three counts of battery against a law enforcement officer and agreed to pay $439.92 restitution for a bad check and comply with mental health services, including taking medication.
In return, eight cases against her were dismissed.
In her motion to withdraw her plea, Siebert’s lawyer, Chris Ambrose, wrote that Siebert had “a tumultuous several years with law enforcement in Marion County.”
According to the motion, she said jailer Tammy Whiteside, deputies Matthew Regier and Aaron Christner, Marion officers Duane McCarty and Clinton Jeffrey, Hillsboro officer Jessey Hiebert, and Undersheriff Larry Starkey used “abusive and inappropriate power dynamics.”
“These interactions drove her to a feeling where her only option was to take a plea,” her lawyer wrote. “In the months between her entry of plea and sentencing, Ms. Siebert came to the conclusion that she felt under duress, and that’s why the plea was entered.”
Charges dismissed when she entered her plea included three counts of disorderly conduct, three counts of interference with law enforcement, three counts of giving a worthless check, three counts of criminal trespass, and one count each of domestic battery, battery, and residential burglary.
If a judge agrees to let Siebert withdraw her plea agreement, all dismissed cases will be reactivated.
In all, 13 criminal cases have been filed against Siebert since 2017.