A defendant charged with assaulting an underage victim was sentenced to prison Thursday, Dec. 19, by Judge Kevin P. Braig in the Logan County Common Pleas Court.
Timothy Emerson, 32, of Bellefontaine, received a six-to-nine year prison term for convictions of felonious assault, a second-degree felony; and domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor.
The case involved a minor victim who sustained severe injuries during the assault on June 9, 2024. Court testimony and a pre-sentence investigation revealed that Emerson, under the influence of alcohol, became enraged and attacked the victim.
He struck her and violently threw her through a door, causing a broken jaw and other injuries that required three surgeries. The victim told the court she continues to endure pain and suffering from the incident.
The victim and her family urged Judge Braig to impose the maximum sentence of eight to 12 years. Emerson’s defense argued for leniency, citing his lack of a significant criminal history, with only a prior misdemeanor conviction in Indiana.
Emerson was indicted in July on charges of felonious assault, a felony of the second degree; strangulation, a felony of the third degree; and two counts of domestic violence, both first-degree misdemeanors.
Judge Braig emphasized the severity of the injuries and the ongoing impact on the victim as key factors in the sentencing decision. Emerson will serve his term in a state correctional facility, with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction determining his release date within the six-to-nine-year range.