T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Andrew Issac Griffin pleads innocent to the double homicide of Thomas and Angela Strussion in front of Judge Chris Berhalter in Belmont County Common Pleas Court.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Andrew Issac Griffin pleaded innocent Monday to the double homicide of Thomas and Angela Strussion — crimes that carry a potential death sentence.

Griffin was arraigned in Belmont County Common Pleas Court on Monday afternoon in front of Judge Chris Berhalter. Griffin was represented by Ohio Public Defender Kirk McVay and Belmont County Public Defender Aaron Miller as he pleaded not guilty to killing the couple in their Belmont-area home.

Griffin was extradited to Ohio from Hilo, Hawaii, on Friday morning and arrived at the Belmont County Jail at 11:10 a.m. He had been arrested in February in connection with the double homicide.

Griffin, 32, is Thomas Strussion’s former business partner in the Elm Grove location

of the Salsa Joe’s restaurant, which opened in May 2021 — just five months prior to the Strussions’ deaths. Strussion also owned and operated a Salsa Joe’s location along National Road east of Morristown, not far from the home on Trails End Drive where their bodies were found.

Both Angela, 49, and Thomas, 52, Strussion were found dead inside the house along with their pets after a structure fire was reported there early on Sept. 21, 2021. A few days later, former Belmont County sheriff Dave Lucas announced that their deaths were the result of a double homicide.

The state of Ohio was represented Monday by Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan and Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Vavra.

Griffin is charged with multiple counts including aggravated murder, aggravated arson and aggravated burglary.

“Mr. Griffin, you’ve been indicted by the Belmont County grand jury with a 14-count indictment,” Berhalter told him from the bench.

Griffin is charged with 12 counts of aggravated murder, one count of aggravated arson and one count of aggravated burglary. According to Flanagan, six of the 12 aggravated murder charges are for the murder of Thomas Strussion while the other six are for the murder of Angela Strussion.

“The aggravated murder statute under Ohio law takes many different forms. And … what I mean by that is that it can be various types of aggravated murder,” Flanagan said. “So, for instance, you could have purposely caused the death of another with prior calculation and design, and we have that. But you can also have purposely caused the death of another in the commission of a burglary, or cause the death of another in commission of an arson, or cause the death of another … by trespassing in their habitation. So all of that is a separate offense.”

Berhalter informed Griffin that if he is convicted of the aggravated murder charges, he could be sentenced to death, life imprisonment without parole, life imprisonment with eligibility for parole after serving 25 years in prison, or life imprisonment with eligibility for parole after serving 30 years of imprisonment.

If convicted of aggravated arson, Griffin could face anywhere from eight to 12 years behind bars. If convicted of aggravated burglary, he could face a maximum of 11 years in prison.

Berhalter also told Griffin that because he allegedly brandished a firearm when committing the aggravated burglary, a firearm stipulation would be added and, if he is convicted of the firearm stipulation, that would add an additional three years to his sentence.

“So when you’re looking at the maximum sentence, aggravated burglary is a felony first degree, which has a maximum of 11 years, then you’re looking at if you’re convicted of the firearms stipulation that would add an additional three years to make it 14 years,” Berhalter said.

“Reagan Tokes (law) would be applicable, adding five and a half years. That would give you a range of sentencing of a maximum sentence of 14 to 16 and a half years in prison,” Berhalter said.

According to the Ohio Supreme Court, provisions titled “The Reagan Tokes Law” alter the sentencing structure for non-life felonies of the first and second degrees.

“The sentencing judge will impose a ‘minimum term’ from within the currently established sentencing range and a ‘maximum term’ of an additional fifty percent of the ‘minimum term’ imposed,” the High Court states on its website. “Release is presumed to occur at the expiration of the ‘minimum term,’ however the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections may, under certain circumstances rebut that release presumption and impose additional prison time up to the ‘maximum term.’

Conversely, the DRC can also reduce the “minimum term” by 5-15% for “exceptional conduct or adjustment to incarceration” with the approval of the sentencing court. The law took effect March 22, 2019.

So, if the sentencing court imposes a four-year minimum sentence, for example, the maximum sentence could be six years if the DRC invokes provisions of the law if infractions are committed by the inmate while in prison.

Flanagan explained that, in this case, if Griffin is found guilty and misbehaves in prison, Reagan Tokes would allow the prison to add additional years to the original sentence.

“There also could be monetary fines imposed for these offenses. For each aggravated murder, which would be (counts) one through 12, you would face a maximum fine of up to $25,000. For the arson charge, which is an aggravated arson that fell in the second degree, you would face a fine of up to $15,000. For the aggravated burglary, that would be $20,000. Do you understand that?” Berhalter asked Griffin, who replied that he understood.

Griffin is being held at the Belmont County Jail without bond but will be back in the Belmont County Common Pleas Court at 9 a.m. Friday for a hearing to determine whether a bond could be set.