Man Accused of Assault Faces Four Years
By KAY SEDGMER For the News-RegisterBenjamin Thomas of Belmont may spend up to four years in prison for beating a Medina man with a pool stick.
Thomas was one of several defendants in Harrison County Common Pleas Court to recently change their pleas on a variety of charges. Judge Michael Nunner accepted pleas from two men and three women.
Thomas, no age provided, pleaded guilty to a second-degree felonious assault charge. He originally was charged with first-degree felony aggravated burglary and will be sentenced sometime in July.
According to court records, Thomas may request judicial release after two years of incarceration.
- Edward Dingman of Buxton Road, Scio pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of third-degree misdemeanor sexual imposition after being secretly indicted in April. He initially was accused of gross sexual imposition after he inappropriately touched a 12-year-old girl.
Dingman, no age provided, received 90 days incarceration with 30 days suspended in accordance with a plea agreement. He can either spend the time in jail or under home monitoring. He also was ordered to two years of community-based controls and must register as a Tier I sexual offender for the next 16 years. In addition, he was ordered to have no contact with the any females under the age of 18 without adult supervision.
- Steubenville resident Amanda Dotson pleaded to a fifth-degree felony theft charge. She was accused of embezzling more than $8,000 while working at Woda Group of Westerville, Ohio. The company operates residential sites in Cadiz.
In her plea bargain, she was placed on four years of probation with a 12-month reserved prison sentence. She is also to pay restitution.
- Melissa Jarvis of Jewett pleaded guilty to a first-degree misdemeanor drug charge. She was given one year of probation and a 10- day sentence, which was suspended.
- Michelle M. Barstow of Carrolton pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of attempted possession of drugs. The plea agreement involved a reduced charge from the initial fifth-degree felony indictment for heroin possession.
She was placed on one year of probation with a 180-day suspended jail sentence and was ordered to undergo drug and alcohol evaluation.
