A Belle Center man faces a charge of gross sexual imposition, along with possession of drugs, relating to an incident that occurred on New Year’s Day, deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office report.
James Gilliam, 57, of 211 E. Main St., was transported to the Logan County Jail after the incident, and then was taken to Mary Rutan Hospital for treatment of facial injuries.
Deputies responded to the area of south Elizabeth Street in Belle Center about 10:20 p.m. on a report of a physical altercation in front of the caller’s residence. A woman outside the home also told the 911 caller that the defendant had touched her sexually.
While speaking with the individuals there, deputies were informed that the victim’s husband had been drinking that day with the defendant at a local bar. Her husband invited Gilliam over to “sleep it off” at the couple’s residence.
The husband left the home for a short time to check on his motorcycle, and said when he returned home, he found Gilliam with his pants pulled down sitting next to his wife, who had been asleep. His wife reportedly kicked the defendant in the face upon waking up and finding him next to her.
The physical altercation then took place outside, and Gilliam took off on foot. A short time later, he was located at his residence by deputies and a trooper of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Deputies observed that the defendant’s face was extremely bloody and that he also was intoxicated and unsteady on his feet. BMRT EMS also responded to the scene, but Gilliam reportedly refused treatment at that time.
He was placed under arrest and transported to the Logan County Jail. Upon arrival, a corrections office located a baggie containing suspected cocaine in his pocket. He then requested treatment at the emergency room and was transported by Bellefontaine EMS to Mary Rutan Hospital.