EATON — A Camden man stood trial on charges of kidnapping, felonious assault and domestic violence in Preble County Common Pleas Court Tuesday. Judge Stephen R. Bruns presided.
According to prosecutors, Brandon T. Welsh, 30, assaulted a female family member in July 2019. An emergency room physician at Preble County Medical Center testified that the victim in the case suffered from bruising, skinned elbows, mild tenderness in her legs and arms, and a swollen right eye when examined several hours after the alleged assault.
Welsh admitted slapping the victim twice during an argument in a friend’s swimming pool, but denied causing her injuries, speculating that she may have caused them herself in order to incriminate him. He also denied throwing her into the pool as alleged, saying he merely knocked her in by bumping against her hip.
Defense attorney James Van Zant, meanwhile, elicited testimony from the emergency room physician that there was no evidence of bone fractures, head trauma, or internal bleeding when the victim was examined. Welsh testified that the victim left the friend’s residence freely after talking with him for several hours.
Both attorneys delivered closing arguments to the jury on Wednesday morning. The jury reached its verdict later that afternoon.
Welsh was found guilty of domestic violence and not guilty on the kidnapping charge. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the charge of felonious assault.
Also in court Wednesday:
Robert M. White, 30, was sentenced on charges of ILC and community control violation. White was ordered to pursue substance abuse treatment in lieu of conviction on charges of aggravated possession of drugs, illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer, and menacing by stalking in 2019.
White entered a plea of admit to the violations on Wednesday, Oct. 14, resulting in his previous guilty pleas being admitted into the record. Judge Bruns sentenced White to three years of community control on each count; a reserved prison sentence of 12 months could be imposed if White violates the terms of his probation.
Bruns also ordered White to undergo substance abuse treatment at River City Correctional Center in Cincinnati.
Miranda C. Crowe, 31, of Eaton, pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated possession of drugs. Crowe failed to appear for a previous change of plea hearing in September; Crowe’s attorney, Bridget Woolum, claimed that Crowe was being held in custody in Montgomery County at the time.
Judge Bruns accepted Crowe’s guilty plea and ordered a pre-sentencing investigation in the case; her next court appearance is a final disposition hearing, to be held Nov. 4.
