Trial of suspect connected to Bluffton officer's death results in plea deal

According to WTVG-13 Action News of Toledo, a suspect charged in connection to the March 2022 death of Bluffton police officer Dominic Francis has taken a plea deal and been convicted of several charges in Hancock County.

Reports show that on Tuesday, February 21, Dante Tate pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property and complicity to receiving stolen property. 

Prosecutors dropped charges of improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle and theft or grand theft of a motor vehicle.

Emin Johnson and Zachary Love still face charges. They are scheduled for a criminal pretrial on March 3. An April 24 jury trial is scheduled for Johnson, who faces charges including involuntary manslaughter and aggravated vehicular homicide.