CIRCLEVILLE – The Pickaway County Common Pleas Court concluded a two day jury trial on Tuesday, September 25 with Judge P. Randall Knece presiding. A jury composed of six men and six women deliberated for slightly more than seven hours before finding Jason B. McCoy of Columbus, Ohio, not guilty of felonious assault or child endangerment, but guilty of kidnapping, a felony of the first degree.
The charges stemmed from the investigation of child abuse on an unnamed 6 year old in Circleville, Ohio. On August 29, another adult, Martha Lemaster, was sentenced to 25 years in prison as a result of this investigation.
The State of Ohio, represented by Prosecutor Judy Wolford and Assistant Prosecutor Heather M.J. Carter, called six witnesses. The first witness was a representative of Children’s Services who participated in the child abuse investigation. Two of the witnesses were minor children in the home; those children testified via a video link to the court. Another witness was a young adult in the home. The fourth and fifth witnesses were doctors from Children’s Hospital.
The defense, represented by Steven Larson. called one witness, Mr. McCoy, who testified on his own behalf.
Mr. McCoy will be sentenced after a presentencing investigation is concluded.
