A Belpre man accused of planning to set his brother-in-law's property on fire and possibly hurt him pleaded no contest in court Friday.
Judge Janet Dyar Welch found James Hoselton guilty of aggravated menacing against Dr. Bill Atkinson Friday morning.
The Washington County prosecutor's office said the charge was lowered from a felony to a misdemeanor in a plea bargain.
The prosecutor said Hoselton showed some men the property to burn and where to go to beat up Dr. Atkinson.
Hoselton is sentenced to ten days in jail or 30 days of electronic home confinement, a fine, and two years of probation.
Hoselton still faces a civil suit trial against Dr. Atkinson's wife.
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Posted by: Disgusted Location: Washington County Ohio on Nov 17, 2008 at 03:04 PM
Aggravated menacing? That certainly must have been some plea bargain - guess they can't say "that rock don't roll"! Charges 'changed' in the middle of the proceeding -- and some wondered why the upper-crust of Marietta recently had no problem with a certain Belpre cop who reduced a felony to a misdemeanor! Seems the entire bunch is doing the same thing, whenever it's convenient for them. First the state charges the man, then discredits itself by 'reducing the charges' and actually changing the charges, and then they give him 10 days in jail or 30 days home confinement!! I've known people to get more time than that for driving on a suspended license! If I were Dr. Atkinson, I think I'd do a little research on Mike Nifong -- and the attorney's that ripped him and the little town of Durham, North Carolina. Yes, sir, I'd give the upper-crust a whole new understanding of the term AGGRAVATED - not to mention menacing!
Posted by: Sally on Nov 15, 2008 at 08:04 AM
He sounds dangerous. He should be in jail for a longer period of time.
