Defendant collapses at sentencing hearing

In December, Jessica L. Dayton, 30, of 320 Sycamore St., pleaded guilty to four counts of endangering children. Monday, she was back in court for sentencing. Common Pleas Court Judge Don Fraser sentenced the woman to a total of eight years in prison. As he was working through the final details of the sentence, the defendant told her attorney she felt “light headed.” She then collapsed.

Proceedings stopped as Deputy Scott Robinson treated the woman. He asked for the help of another deputy. Eventually, the medics were called and the sentencing hearing was continued.

Earlier in the nearly two-hour long sentencing hearing, prosecutors played a video of Dayton directing her stepchildren to fight with each other. One victim testified about the abuse and a victim’s advocate read two additional statements.

The statements detailed the abuse of children for several years, beginning when the youngest was six years old.

“They had no one to trust, no one to love them during that time,” said Assistant Union County Prosecutor Ashley Johns.

She detailed how the children were hit with hammers, wires and other objects, how they were stomped on, how they had their eyes taped shut and abused in other ways.

“I would submit the reason we are here on a child endangering case, and not a murder case is because these children were removed by child protective services before that could occur,” Johns told the judge.

A relative of Dayton’s testified that the defendant’s life “has been one mess after another.” She detailed abuse in Dayton’s childhood and said children fight, but Dayton is a good person.

Defense attorney Chris Trolinger told Fraser that Dayton has no criminal history and this is her first interaction with the court. He said his client has shown “genuine remorse.”

The judge was unmoved. He called the case, “a tragic case as it effects all involved.”

“A family has been ripped apart and children have been physically and emotionally damaged, probably beyond repair as it would appear to the court,” said Fraser.

The judge said that while history repeats itself, prior abuse does not excuse Dayton’s conduct, which he called “disgusting” and “depraved.”

“It’s not something a responsible parent would do,” said Fraser. “It’s not something a loving parent would do when in their right mind.”

He added, “There simply is no excuse for the horrendous abuse of these children.”

Fraser ordered the woman to spend eight years in the Ohio Reformatory for Women.

“Chris. Chris. I feel light headed,” Dayton said as the judge spoke. Then she collapsed.

She was taken to Memorial Hospital. Her treatment was unknown as of press time, though jail information indicates she has been returned to the Tri-County Regional Jail in Mechanicsburg. No additional sentencing date has been set.

According to court documents, between Aug. 20, 2009, and April 1, Dayton would “torture or cruelly abuse” her two stepchildren.

The abuse led to “serious physical harm” to both children. The children were 8 and 6 years old at the time the alleged abuse began.

Union County Prosecutor David Phillips said there was an existing case against Dayton when the Union County Department of Job and Family Services (DJFS) got involved. Phillips said DJFS conducted an investigation and turned it over to the Marysville Division of Police.

Phillips said some neighbors and school officials suspected there was some abuse and notified local protective services. He urged anyone who suspects a child is being abused to contact officials.

“If people become aware of this, whether they are a teacher or a neighbor or a bus driver or a family member, we would encourage it to be reported and do it earlier rather than later because we can intercede quicker and protect the child,” said Phillips.

He said state law protects individuals’ privacy when they report suspected child abuse.