Hillsboro man gets 5 years in felonious assault case
A Hillsboro man was sentenced last week to five years in prison after pleading guilty to a felonious assault charge.
As previously reported, Gary Dean Craft, 66, was indicted by a Highland County grand jury in June and was charged with one count each of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and assault by a caretaker, a fourth-degree felony. He pleaded guilty to the felonious assault charge July 2.
The indictment alleged that on or about May 11, Craft “did knowingly cause serious physical harm” to a victim.
According to the plea agreement, the offense carries a possible prison of two to eight years, which could be up to 12 years under the Reagan Tokes Law. The plea agreement had a joint recommendation of a five-year sentence from legal counsel.
During Craft’s July 2 hearing, assistant prosecutor Adam King told Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss that the elderly victim suffered “horrific” injuries.
“Somehow the defendant managed to essentially peel the skin off of the top of both of the victim’s arms,” King said, adding that the victim also suffered injuries to the face.
Craft’s attorney Jacob Wagoner said that his client “never denied responsibility” for the “horrible event” that occurred in May.
“He’s taking full responsibility for his actions,” Wagoner said.
Craft also issued an apology, saying that his “actions … go against everything I believe in.
“There is no excuse,” he said.
Coss said Craft’s actions “show a real cruelty and hatred.
“It’s unbelievable,” Coss said. “It took some real effort to do something to cause this injury.
“It’s a terrible crime.”
Coss said that although Craft “probably deserves the max” prison sentence, he would agree to the five-year recommended sentence since Craft has “taken full accountability.”
Under the Reagan Tokes Law, Craft could serve up to seven and a half years in prison. He had jail time credit of 52 days.
Craft was admitted into the Correctional Reception Center in Orient on July 8, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.