Cristescu pleads guilty to minor charges, awaits hearing for felony charge

Miami sophomore Nicolas Cristescu pleaded guilty Thursday to a marijuana paraphernalia charge and an amended class one misdemeanor for disseminating matter harmful to minors. As part of plea deal, the state dismissed a marijuana possession charge against Cristescu.

The 20-year-old finance major stood before Butler County Area I judge Robert Lyons in the Oxford courthouse at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 14.

Lyons issued a $150 fine for the marijuana paraphernalia charge and followed the recommendations of the pre-sentencing agreement for the misdemeanor charge: Cristescu was handed a $1,000 fine and will serve one year of probation.

As part of his probation, Cristescu will complete a mandatory drug and alcohol assessment. The results of the assessment will determine whether or not Cristescu will be required to pursue further alcohol or drug treatment.

Cristescu also received credit for 10 of the days he served in jail.

As a result of a plea agreement, any evidence relevant to the case within the Butler County Area I court will be destroyed, Cristescu's lawyer for the Area I charges, Neal Schuett said.

Cristescu still faces one count of rape, one count of sexual battery and 11 counts of voyeurism in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas. His trial is scheduled to begin the second week of January. Cristescu posted $75,000 bond for these charges on Monday, Nov. 27.

As of Friday, Dec. 15 Cristescu is still enrolled as a student at Miami University, according to Claire Wagner, director of university news and communications.

Cristescu will appear in the Common Pleas court in Hamilton on Monday, Dec. 18 for a pretrial hearing at 1 p.m. His trial for the felony charges is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9.

doyleca3@miamioh.edu

@cadoyle_18

This article was updated to include information about Nicholas Cristescu's student status at 10:37 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec 19, 2017.