Merrill Brake-Line Sabotage Leads to Prison Sentence for Athens Man

24-year-old David Genrich of Athens, who was charged with severing brake lines on two vehicles, has been sentenced to four years in prison followed by five years of extended supervision.

The charges resulted from a series of incidents spanning four months back in 2023 leading to his arrest. Investigators said the incidents were driven by Genrich’s fixation on a co-worker who at the time was dating, and has since married, one of the victims. Genrich was captured on home video cutting the brake lines on a vehicle at a residence in Merrill. Statements issued in court by a father and son who were the victims reflected on the physical and mental trauma resulting from the incident, and remorse from not having done more to protect the family. Genrich has been ordered to pay restitution to both.

In December of 2025, Genrich entered no-contest pleas to one count of attempted first-degree recklessly endangering safety and three counts of criminal damage to property. As part of the plea agreement, five additional charges were dismissed, but remained a factor during sentencing.