CIRCLEVILLE, OHIO — In a dramatic twist following his recent conviction on multiple charges, Chris Agin, represented by legal counsel, has filed a motion for a new trial citing several legal grounds that he argues warrant reconsideration of the verdict.
Mr. Agin, 61, of New Holland, Ohio, was found guilty in a three-day trial held at the Pickaway County Common Pleas Court in June 2024. The charges stem from a series of domestic disputes involving his wife and stepdaughters, leading to multiple violations of protection orders and other offenses. The verdict rendered him guilty of eighteen counts out of a twenty-count indictment, including serious charges such as Intimidation of a Victim in a Criminal Case, Violating a Protection Order, Aggravated Burglary, Telecommunications Harassment, and Menacing by Stalking. He was acquitted of Assault and Domestic Violence charges.
Attorney James R. Kingsley, representing Mr. Agin, has filed a detailed motion pursuant to Crim. R. 33, arguing primarily that the verdicts were not supported by the evidence presented during the trial and were contrary to the law. The motion challenges various aspects of the case, including the validity of protection orders, the interpretation of Ohio’s laws on deadly weapons, and the alleged inconsistencies in the jury’s findings.
One of the key arguments presented in the motion revolves around the due process violation related to a protection order issued without Mr. Agin’s presence, which his attorney contends rendered subsequent actions based on that order void. The motion also disputes the classification of a pocketknife found in Mr. Agin’s possession during his arrest as a deadly weapon, emphasizing that it was not used in a threatening manner and was not open.
Moreover, the defense challenges the verdicts on charges of Intimidation, arguing that the evidence did not substantiate the claims made against Mr. Agin, particularly regarding the absence of any credible threat.
The complexity of the legal arguments put forward in Mr. Agin’s motion suggests a protracted legal battle ahead, as both sides prepare for a rigorous examination of the case in the courtroom.
The Pickaway County Court of Common Pleas has scheduled a hearing to review the motion a pretrial has been set to start on August 9, 2024. The outcome of this motion could potentially impact Mr. Agin’s conviction and subsequent sentencing.
