Sheffield Lake man gets 2 years in prison for burglary, abduction, stalking

A Sheffield Lake man who spent more than a month on the run from police and federal agents has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to felony burglary, abduction and stalking. On Nov. 4, the day Jon Lefort's trial was scheduled to start, Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Donna Freeman sentenced Lefort, 39, of Sheffield Road, to 24 months in prison on six felony charges including one count each of burglary and abduction and four counts of menacing by stalking, plus two misdemeanor charges — one count each of domestic violence and telecommunications harassment. The Lorain County Prosecutor's Office recommended two years in prison. Freeman imposed the condition that Lefort have no contact with the victim in the case. Lefort received mandatory credit for 111 days already served in jail awaiting trial. He had been held on $500,000 bond since his June 30 arrest. Messages seeking additional information were left for Lefort's attorney and the Prosecutor's Office. "Cases like this don't end when the emergency lights are turned off or an arrest is made. Officers, investigators, prosecutors, courts and victims continue through a process that can take months," the Sheffield Lake Police Department said in a Facebook post on Friday, stating its appreciation for "everyone who assisted throughout this investigation and prosecution." Lefort was wanted by Sheffield Lake police on felony charges of aggravated burglary and abduction and on a warrant for a probation violation in May. Court records also said he stalked and threatened a female victim multiple times between May 13 and June 17, trespassed on her property and armed himself with a knife. He also committed a burglary and held a victim against her will on May 21. Warning that Lefort might be dangerous and try to stab officers or force police to shoot and kill him, the Lorain County SWAT Team on May 21 searched the Sheffield Road home of a woman Lefort had been in a relationship with after Lefort was seen there, but he left before police arrived. Five weeks later, and only one day after naming Lefort its "Fugitive of the Week," agents with the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested him without incident at a residence in the 4400 block of Warner Road in Cleveland on June 30. Lefort has prior convictions for domestic violence in both Lorain County Common Pleas Court in 2025 and Medina Municipal court in 2019, according to court records. Contact Dave O'Brien at 440-329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.