MOUNT VERNON – Mount Vernon Director of Law Rob Broeren announced that on May 19, 2017, a jury in the Mount Vernon Municipal Court convicted James E. Fox III of Fredericktown, Ohio of Domestic Violence and Assault after a two-day jury trial. The charges arose out of an incident that occurred on February 5, 2017. Mr. Fox struck his 6-year old daughter in the face, loosening a front tooth and slitting her bottom lip.
Assistant Director of Law Brittany Whitney tried the case to the jury. She presented testimony of Deputy Sheriff Tim Knell and Detective Sergeant Dan Bobo of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the 6-year old victim, the victim’s 7-year old half-sister, a school counselor, and a RN from Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before returning the guilty verdicts. Judge John C. Thatcher ordered Mr. Fox to serve 180 days in jail with 90 days suspended on the following conditions: that the Defendant serve a term of probation for three years, complete a Batterer’s Intervention Program, and have no contact with the victim or her mother pursuant to an ex-parte Civil Protection Order issued by the Knox County Court of Common Pleas. The Court also assessed a $500 fine and ordered Mr. Fox to pay the costs of the prosecution in this matter. For purposes of sentencing, the Assault charge merged into the Domestic Violence charge.
Mr. Fox was represented by Attorney Andrew Wick.
For the community, by the community