JACKSON OH— Two of the three adults accused of sexual abuse against children have been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
On May 11, 2020 a mother reported that her child had been sexually abused. The investigation of the case led Jackson County Children Services and Jackson County Sheriff Tedd Frazier’s Deputies to seek multiple criminal indictments against three individuals for their part in alleged sexual abuse of children.
Two of the three adults have made guilty pleas in the case. A third adult, identified as 34-year-old Shawne Norman, of Grandview Avenue, Jackson has elected to go to trial for her three indictments of Rape, all first-degree felonies. Her trial is set to begin January 4, 2021, which will be presided over by Jackson County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Regan.
On October 30, James F. Norman, 33, of Burt Harrold Road, Jackson was sentenced. Then on November 5, Shelbie Hunt, 28, of Neil Avenue, Gallipolis, was sentenced.
Both Hunt and Norman previously made a voluntary plea of guilty to crimes committed from 2016 thru January of 2019 and waived their rights to jury trials.
Judge Regan found that due to seriousness of the crimes committed, as well as the injury exacerbated by child victim’s age; the child victim suffered serious psychological harm;and the belief that Hunt showed no genuine remorse, Judge Regan sentenced Hunt to a mandatory term of 25 years to life imprisonment.
Hunt received the following sentencing:
· Count one, Rape, a felony of the 1st degree; a mandatory sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
· Count two, Rape, a felony of the 1st degree, a mandatory sentence of 5 years imprisonment.
· Count three, Rape, a felony of the 1st degree, a mandatory sentence of 10 years to life of imprisonment.
Judge Regan found that due to seriousness of the crimes committed, as well as the injury exacerbated by child victim’s age; the child victim suffered serious psychological harm;and that Norman’s relationship with the child facilitated the offenses, Judge Regan sentenced Norman to a mandatory term of 25 years to life imprisonment.
Norman received the following sentencing:
· Count one, Rape, a felony of the 1st degree; a mandatory sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
· Count two, Rape, a felony of the 1st degree, a mandatory sentence of 5 years imprisonment.
· Count three, Rape, a felony of the 1st degree, a mandatory sentence of 10 years to life of imprisonment.
Judge Regan levied that all three counts shall run consecutively to one another. The Court found that the consecutive sentencing of Hunt and Norman was necessary to protect the public from future crime and to punish the offenders and that consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of their conduct and to the danger they poses to the public.
Hunt did receive 175 days for jail time credit previously served, while Norman received 169 days. They both will have to register as a Tier III Sexual Offenders and is unable to seek early release. Judge Regan also does not recommend risk reduction sentences. Upon completion of the full sentence imposed in this case, Hunt and Norman will have to serve a mandatory period of five years of post-release control under the direction of the Adult Parole Authority.
Hunt and Norman were remanded to the custody of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for transportation to State Penal Institutions.
