State of Ohio v. Brandon Jonathan Eagle

Washington, Ohio criminal defense lawyer represented defendant charged with kidnapping and second degree robbery.



Brandon Jonathan Engle, 28, was indicted for on or about Aug. 30, 2018, Engle "did by force, threat or deception knowingly, under circumstances creating a substantial risk of serious physical harm” to the victim, "restrain the liberty of” the victim” and "did not release [the victim] in a safe place, unharmed.” It was further alleged that Engle "did in attempting or committing a theft offense ... or in fleeing immediately after the attempt or offense, did inflict, attempt to inflict or threaten to inflict physical harm” on the victim.





Also charged in connection with this incident was Brandon McComas, 31, of Anderson. He pleaded guilty to robbery via a bill of information in October 2018 and was sentenced to a definite determinate term of five years in prison. Coss said during Engle's sentencing hearing that had he was not "aware” of the extent of the crime at the time of McComas's sentencing.



However, Coss said "the court does not feel it's appropriate to impose a sentence” on Engle "greater than” the McComas sentence, as those testifying alleged that Engle "aided and abetted” McComas. As a result, Coss sentenced Engle to a definite determinate term of five years in prison, with jail time credit of 46 days.



In addition, Coss noted that Engle "had two separate, long periods of absconding from” the Adult Parole Authority while under supervision in a separate case and committed what he called the "brutal crime” in Highland County. Coss ordered Engle to serve an additional sentence of 674 days (three years minutes any time spent under post-release control for the separate case). This sentence is to be served consecutively to the five-year sentence on the kidnapping charge.

The jury deliberated for less than an hour before finding Engle guilty of both counts. “It’s clear by the quick verdict, the jury totally rejected Mr. Engle’s testimony and his version of what happened,” Coss said. “It’s very clear that his connections to the victim was what enabled this to happen, and in terms of the actions that he took were clearly — as the jury found — one of aiding and abetting, not one of remorse or trying to stop it or anything else.”