Piqua man sentenced in odometer tampering, vehicle title case

Jordan Thompson has been sentenced in Miami County Common Pleas Court to community control. CONTRIBUTED

Jordan Thompson has been sentenced in Miami County Common Pleas Court to community control. CONTRIBUTED

A Piqua man accused of improper handling of vehicle titles and tampering with an odometer at Piqua’s Finest Auto Sales was sentenced Tuesday to two years of community control after telling a judge he took on too much responsibility with the business.

Jordan Thompson, 32, pleaded in Miami County Common Pleas Court to one count of tampering with an odometer and two counts of prohibited acts involving vehicle titles.

Paul Watkins, an assistant county prosecutor, said the case involved nine vehicles. Thompson sold vehicles but failed to deliver titles within the required time, he said. The odometer of one vehicle was illegally changed, he said.

As part of a plea deal, other charges were dismissed.

Defense lawyer Jack Hemm said Thompson got over his head in the business, and fell behind with title processing.

Thompson told Judge Jeannine Pratt he found the dealership a “very difficult” business. “I took on entirely too much responsibility,” he said.

Thompson was ordered to pay $1,220 in restitution and perform 25 hours of community service.

“You need to give back to the public you took advantage of,” Pratt told Thompson. If Thompson fails to complete the community control, he could face up to five years in prison.

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