Newark Man Sentencedโข to Overโค 11 Years for Violent Crimes Against โGirlfriend
newark, OH – A Lickingโ County man has been sentenced to 11 to 16 years in โฃprison for โaโค series of assaults, strangulations, and โขa โkidnapping committed against hisโค girlfriend over a two-month period. Dylan W. Hess, 32, of Newark, โขpleaded guilty to two counts โขeach of felonious โคassault, kidnapping, and strangulation,โ as well as oneโ count of intimidating a witness orโ victim, duringโค a hearing โon โSeptember 2, according to court records.
Judge David Branstool of the Licking Countyโข Common Pleasโ Court ordered Hess to serve the sentence,โ with credit given forโ 126 daysโ already served.
The โขLicking County Prosecutor’s Officeโ statedโข that Hess โrepeatedly assaulted and strangled his girlfriend,with many incidents occurring in the presence of children. โthe assaults often involved theโ useโฃ of a wooden stick,resulting โคin notable โbruising to the victim’s body.
Hess was โคinitially indicted byโค a licking County grand โjury on April 2,withโ the crimes alleged to have taken place in March. He had previously postedโ a $20,000 bail following an arrest in March on a drug charge and a warrant related to a prior domestic case.
Concerns regarding Hess’s behaviour โฃwere raised by hisโค probation officer on April โค25, and by aโข victim’s advocate withโฃ Licking Municipal Court.โ According to a policeโ complaint,theโข victim reported being picked up by Hess on April 27 and notโ returned home after requesting โฃit.She further alleged that Hess assaulted her โafterโข she attempted to seek help, and detectives observed multiple injuries on the victim.
A supersedingโฃ indictment adding the kidnapping โcharges was delivered โbyโ a โgrand jury in May. Hessโค initially entered a plea of not guilty before reaching a plea agreement โwith โprosecutors.
in addition โto the prison sentence, Judge Branstool ordered Hess to serve โtwo years of probation, with โฃthe possibility of up to five additional years if he violates the โฃtermsโฃ of his release. Court records also indicate Hess was found โguilty of domestic violenceโ involving the same victim in Lickingโ Countyโข Municipal Court in august.