|
PILKINGTON |
A trial date has been set for the man who was charged with having an improper sexual relationship with his wife before she gave birth to the first of three boys she allegedly smothered.
Joseph Pilkington, 44, who now resides in Newark, is scheduled to go to trial July 26 and 27. He faces a sexual battery charge for impregnating Brittany Pilkington when she was 17 years old and had been living in the girl’s home as a father figure. They were later married.
Mrs. Pilkington, 23, is accused of smothering the couple’s three sons, Niall, three months, on July 22, 2014; Gavin, 4, on April 6; and Noah, three months, on Aug. 16. She is facing aggravated murder charges and could be sentenced to the death penalty if convicted at trial in October.
Mr. Pilkington’s lawyer, Steven Fansler has filed motions asking Logan County Common Pleas Judge Mark S. O’Connor to dismiss the case because of a delay in prosecution and seeking a change in venue because of pre-trial publicity.
The Logan County Prosecutor’s Office also has removed itself from the prosecution because Prosecutor William T. Goslee has previously represented Mr. Pilkington in a divorce case. Rick Rodger, an assistant prosecutor in the Union County Prosecutor’s Office appeared at the Monday hearings to represent the state.
He was given until April 18 to reply to Mr. Fansler’s motions, although Judge O’Connor said he likely would not rule on the change of venue request until after attempts to seat a local jury have been made.
A July 11 date was set for a final pre-trial hearing.
Man gets local jail for crime spree
|
BARKER JR. |
A man who originally was indicted on 23 counts for a crime spree in Quincy was ordered to spend 90 days in the Logan County Jail.
James O. Barker Jr., 31, a former Quincy resident who reported at his plea hearing he was living in Springfield, was sentenced to the local jail time for a fourth-degree felony count of arson and two theft charges.
He was charged in connection with an Aug. 1 series of crimes in which at least 10 vehicles were entered and two were damaged by fire.
William L. Smith’s 1976 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was set on fire at 207 Main St. and the fire then spread to Mr. Smith’s Cadillac STS. The car sustained heavy front damage, and the motorcycle was a total loss.
He was ordered to pay $956 restitution and must promptly find a job upon release from jail, Judge O’Connor said. He also will be on community control for five years. He was given 25 days’ credit for time served.
|
PRATER |
LATHAM |
LATHAM |
• George Prater, 41, of Bellefontaine, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for possession of drugs and three counts of trafficking in drugs.
He was granted 64 days’ credit and Judge O’Connor said he may be eligible for release to the West Central Community Correctional Facility rehabilitation program after spending at least 30 days in prison.
• Ryan Latham, 26, of North Lewisburg, was ordered to complete the West Central program and be on community control for five years for one count of breaking and entering in connection with an Aug. 3 break in and theft of a generator from 7596 County Road 277 on Aug. 3. He was ordered to pay $380 restitution to Linda Castle.
• Ashley Shepherd, 31, of Bellefontaine, will spend six additional days in jail, in addition to six served, for two counts of trafficking in heroin for November drug buys conducted by the Logan County Joint Drug Task Force. She also must successfully complete the Logan County Family Court’s treatment court docket in which she already is enrolled.
Pleas entered
|
ADKINS |
Christopher Adkins, 27, of Lakeview, admitted to possession of drugs and felony vandalism charges for a Feb. 15 incident in which he and codefendant Brittiny J. Swincher, 28, were found disoriented and confused inside a room at the Comfort Inn, 260 Northview Drive, they had destroyed.
Mr. Adkins had 25 grams of methamphetamine in his possession during the arrest.
He will be sentenced May 9.
|
STEFFEY JR. |
• Christopher Steffey Jr., 27, of Bellefontaine, entered guilty pleas and was placed on the intervention in lieu of conviction for a fourth-degree felony count of theft of drugs and a fifth-degree drug possession charge.
He took numerous prescription opiates from Angela Ward and Dalton Ward while staying at their 121 W. Brown Ave. home in November. Officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department found him semiconscious inside the Village Pantry on the night of Nov. 5 after taking a report about the theft of drugs.