Liberty man pleads guilty in bodily fluids case

February 12, 2015 at 12:04a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

A man who was accused last summer of inserting his bodily fluids into the soup of his boss entered guilty pleas to two charges Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

John Cutlip, 27, of Maplewood Drive in Liberty, entered guilty pleas to a count of telecommunications harassment, a first-degree misdemeanor and criminal mischief, a fifth-degree felony.

Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer McLaughlin told Judge Maureen Sweeney the state is recommending probation with some county jail time included as part of the plea agreement. A sentencing date has not been set yet.

A charge of intimidation of a victim was dismissed. McLaughlin said it would have been difficult to prove that charge because in an email to the boss, Cutlip mentions legal strategies but never threatened her.

Cutlip was indicted by a grand jury in June after an investigation by Struthers police, where the business Cutlip worked at is based.

Police said Cutlip videotaped himself putting his bodily fluids into the soup, which the boss said she consumed. Police said Cutlip did it as a joke to impress his girlfriend.

McLaughlin said she had lengthy discussions with the victim before the plea was offered and that she is in agreement with it. McLaughlin said the victim and Cutlip once had a close relationship as friends and coworkers, and once she calmed down, the victim did not want Cutlip to go to prison.

“This agreement has her support,” McLaughlin said.