He’s charged with attempted murder, attempted rape in Metro Park incident

ELYRIA — A county grand jury slammed the man accused of kidnapping, shooting and trying to rape a hiker earlier this month with a 17-count indictment Thursday.

The charges could send Matthew Plas, 25, to prison for more than 50 years.

Plas is charged with attempted rape, tampering with evidence, gross sexual imposition, having weapons under disability, carrying a concealed weapon, five counts of kidnapping, three counts of aggravated robbery and two counts each of attempted murder and felonious assault. Several of the charges carry gun and sexual motivation specifications that could add mandatory prison time to Plas’ sentence if he’s convicted.

Plas is accused of grabbing Shawn Stevens of Carlisle Township as she hiked in the Carlisle Reservation on May 6, shooting her, stuffing her in the trunk of her car and speeding away from a pair of witnesses at 100 mph. Lorain County Metro Parks rangers arrested Plas after he allegedly dumped Stevens, 43, behind a closed carpet business on Oberlin-Elyria Road and fled into the woods.

Stevens’ family has said the mother of three is paralyzed from the waist down because the bullet severed her spine. The family has set up the Shawn Stevens Fund at Fifth Third Bank.

While The Chronicle does not normally name victims of sexual assaults, the family asked that Stevens name be made public in light of the fund that has been set up for her.

Kenneth Lieux, Plas’ attorney, said prosecutors appear to have thrown every charge they could think of at his client.

“It’s a bit overkill. They can do it, and I understand why they do it,” he said. “I’m sure because this case has engendered a fair amount of publicity they’re leaving no stone unturned.”

Lieux said because Plas was indicted before a preliminary hearing could be held on the allegations against him in Elyria Municipal Court, he knows little about the case police and prosecutors have built.

If the preliminary hearing had gone forward, he said, police would have had to lay out some of their case, but now he’ll have to wait for prosecutors to provide details of the allegations against Plas.

County Prosecutor Dennis Will said the investigation continues and that additional charges are possible. He said his office plans to push for a lengthy prison term for Plas.

“In your career, there are things that you say are a horrendous type of case, and I think this falls into that category,” he said.

Sheriff’s Capt. Richard Resendez said the gun from the incident hasn’t been recovered, and the bullet has not been removed from the victim’s body.

Stevens continues to recover at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland and will soon be ready to begin her rehabilitation, according to family.

Contact Brad Dicken at 329-7147 or bdicken@chroniclet.com.

Contact Stephen Szucs at 329-7129 or sszucs@chroniclet.com.

 

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