News
Vinton County Man Convicted of Sex Charge Has Appeal Dismissed
By: Susan Tebben | The Athens Messenger
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A man who was sentenced to four years in prison has dismissed an appeal he had filed in the case.
Jacob R. Patton, 30, had his request for dismissal of appeal granted by the 4th District Court of Appeals last week.
The appeal was filed Dec. 2, but a merit brief in the case hadn’t been filed yet.
Patton filed his motion to dismiss the appeal on March 13, asking that court costs also be waived, court documents stated.
Patton pleaded guilty in July 2011 to a charge of gross sexual imposition.
Athens County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Ward sentenced him to four years in prison and ordered that he register as a Tier II sex offender with community notification, according to previous Messenger reporting.
Patton was charged after a September 2011 incident at a home on the far east side of Athens.
Patton was looking after a 7-year-old girl at the home when he put his hand down the front of the girl’s underwear and made contact with her vaginal area.
Patton was not related to the girl, according to Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn.
Patton did not specify a reason why he was asking that the appeal be dismissed.
He asked for waiver of the court costs related to the appeals case because it was so early in the case proceedings.
“Because Mr. Patton is indigent and this motion is being filed prior to this court having to review the appellate briefs, hear argument, or begin preparing a decision, Mr. Patton respectfully requests that this court grant his motion and waive the costs associated with his appeal,” wrote Carrie Wood, assistant state public defender, representing Patton.
Marie Hoover, administrative judge for the 4th district, granted the motion in a ruling filed March 20.
Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said he was happy to have a resolution to the case.