Muskingum County man sentenced to 11 years for kidnapping, gross sexual imposition

A Roseville man will spend the next 11 years in prison after a Muskingum County jury convicted him of kidnapping and gross sexual imposition.

Shawn Hale was sentenced earlier this month by Muskingum County Common Pleas Court Judge Gerald Anderson. Hale, a repeat felon with prior convictions including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, escape and domestic violence, will also be required to register as a sex offender following his release from prison.

Before trial, Hale was unwilling to accept responsibility for his conduct.

Defense counsel advised that the only resolution Hale would accept was for the State to dismiss all charges and provide him with a written, formal apology.

The State declined.

The case went to trial, and a Muskingum County jury needed less than 30 minutes to find Hale guilty.

The charges arose from a May 4, 2026 assault that was captured on video. During the incident, Hale touched and groped the victim while demanding sex. The victim repeatedly told Hale, “No,” “Stop it” and “Get off of me.”

Hale did not stop.

Instead, he climbed on top of the victim, continued touching her, licked her neck, repeatedly smacked her on the backside and laughed while she attempted to make him stop.

Jurors rejected the suggestion that Hale's conduct was consensual and found him guilty of kidnapping and gross sexual imposition.

“Mr. Hale just doesn’t get it. He didn’t get it the day of these offenses, he didn’t get it after his last prison stint, he didn’t get it when he was posturing before trial, and he still didn’t get it Monday when he was sentenced,” Assistant Prosecutor John Litle said.

“When someone cannot understand the basic premise that ‘No means no’ and ‘keep your hands to yourself,’ then the appropriate place for them is prison, where Mr. Hale will be for the foreseeable future.”

Assistant Prosecutors John Litle and Jahan Karamali prosecuted the case.