4/27/11 Millersburg man found guilty of disrupting public service

  • By Nick Sabo
  • April 27, 2011
  • 281
                        
SUMMARY: Found not guilty of domestic violence charges in bench trial A judge threw out charges of domestic violence against a Millersburg man Monday April 25 following a one day bench trial, but found him guilty of depriving his alleged victims of the ability to call for help. William C. Hinds, 53, 33480 Township Road 222, was found not guilty by Holmes County Common Pleas Judge Robert D. Rinfret of two counts of domestic violence and guilty of one count of disrupting public service, a fourth degree felony. Hinds faces up to 18 months in prison on the charge. The charges stem from August 22, 2009, when Hinds fought with his step-son and made allegedly threatening gestures toward his wife. Hinds grabbed and threw a cell phone when a witness attempted to contact police. According to testimony at the trial, Hinds’ wife, Charlotte Hinds, was traveling on South Washington Street August 22 with two juveniles in a Chevy-crew cab truck. She passed Hinds, who was traveling on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the other direction, and decided to hide out from him in a rear parking lot behind a store. Hinds arrived a few minutes later and parked the motorcycle in front of the the truck. Charlotte testified that Hinds reached in through the window after her and climbed into the front seat of the truck. Charlotte was pulled out of the truck by a juvenile who was seated on the passenger side. As Hinds climbed into the driver’s seat, he was struck by his stepson, who came out from the rear passenger seat. Hinds and the stepson fought briefly until they were separated by the juvenile passenger. The passenger attempted to call 911 and Hinds grabbed the cell phone, throwing it onto a grass bank. Hinds left in the Chevy, hitting the motorcycle on the way out. The testimony offered by the passenger and Charlotte Hinds was vague, with both claiming difficulty remembering the events. The stepson said he attacked Hinds because he thought Hinds was about to harm his mother. The stepson and Hinds both received minor injuries in the altercation. Hinds said he had set out to look for Charlotte because he believed she was in no shape to drive. Charlotte testified she was on multiple medications at the time but had not taken any that would effect her ability to drive August 22. Hinds admitted to throwing the cell phone but said he did it as a distraction so he could “get away”. He took the truck to prevent Charlotte from driving, he said. The testimony further revealed Hinds broke a no contact provision prior to trial that barred him from speaking to the three witnesses, having spoke to the juvenile passenger and communicating with his wife through friends. Rinfret ordered Hinds’ bond be revoked and scheduled sentencing for May 25.


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