WARREN — A man sentenced to 48 years in prison for a series of crimes that terrorized a family in Weathersfield had his request to set aside his guilty plea denied.

The attorney for Michael Peach, 41, filed the motion to vacate his guilty plea July 7 — 29 days after Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Ronald J. Rice issued the sentence against Peach that also included labeling him a Tier II sex offender should he ever be released from prison.

Rice on Thursday denied the request to vacate the plea made April 27 to 18 felony charges: three counts of gross sexual imposition, two counts of aggravated burglary, three counts of felonious assault, two counts of kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, aggravated robbery, possession of criminal tools, two counts of failure to comply with order or signal of police officer and three counts of illegal use of minor in nudity-oriented material or performances.

In exchange for the plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss charges of retaliation and intimidation.

Documents filed supporting the motion state Peach understands the sentence, but does not agree with what happened. “In fact, the defendant (Peach) believes he is serving time for crimes he did not commit,” the document states.

The case revolved around a reported sexual assault on a then 9-year-old boy Nov. 23, 2016, at a Niles home, according to court documents.

The documents state on Dec. 19, 2016, Peach broke into a Poplar Street home in Weathersfield armed with a Taser, stun gun and large knife, holding the occupants hostage for a while. The documents state he used a stun gun on a female occupant while she held her child. He also used a stun gun on another man in the home, the report states.

After police were called, Peach fled, getting into a high-speed chase with police officers that ended when Peach’s vehicle crashed into a tree off state Route 46. Police reports state Peach got out of the car, and was caught later in a wooded area. In the process of his arrest, Peach was found with apparent self-inflicted stab wounds to his chest, which required hospitalization.

Should Peach be released from prison, as a Tier II sex offender, he would be required to register his whereabouts with the sheriff’s office in his county of residence every six months for 25 years.

rselak@tribtoday.com