Appeal goes wrong for Clay

By Jane Beathard

Staff Writer

A third time in court was not the charm for the man convicted of robbing Merchants National Bank in London in 2010.

Jamie Clay, 32, currently an inmate at London Correctional Institution, was back in Madison County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday to appeal his prison sentence.

It wasn’t the first time Clay sought to reduce his original six-year sentence for robbery, vandalism and possession of criminal tools. His first appeal, based on the September 2011 change in Ohio’s sentencing guidelines, was successful and cut his prison time to four years.

But Clay over-played his hand.

He appealed to reduce the four-year sentence, saying the vandalism conviction set no dollar amount of damage and was actually a misdemeanor.

Big mistake.

Recent appeals court rulings allowed Judge Robert D. Nichols to deny the appeal and re-imposed Clay’s original six-year sentence. And that’s what happened on Wednesday.

Clay’s scheduled release date is now is November 2016 instead of November 2014.

And he is facing even more trouble for allegedly plotting to smuggle drugs into the prison on Dec. 21, 2011. He was indicted in August and is awaiting trial on that charge.

In other common pleas court action on Tuesday:

• Billy D. Dixon, 27, 12 Columbia Ave., London, was sentenced to nine months in prison after pleading guilty to felony domestic violence. The charge stemmed from a Dec. 26, 2012 incident at his home.

• David L. Hanson, 22, 283 Bowman Court, Apt. A, London, pleaded guilty to felony domestic violence, stemming from a Nov. 7, 2012 incident. Hanson faces up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine for the conviction.

Nichols ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for April 23.

• Hunter A. Routte, 22, 807 Crescent Drive, West Jefferson, pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted firearm theft, stemming from an incident on April 15, 2012. One count was dismissed by the prosecutor.

Sentencing for Routte was delayed, pending evaluation for substance abuse treatment.

• Brittany M. Baldwin, 21, 11858 Crottinger Road, Plain City, pleaded guilty to a burglary charge, stemming from an Aug. 27, 2012 incident. A second theft charge was dismissed by the prosecutor.

Baldwin faces up to 36 months in prison and a $10,000 fine for the third-degree felony conviction.

Baldwin was free on bond when she tested positive for heroin on Feb. 28 and March 12. She was re-arrested and remains in Tri-County Regional Jail, pending an April 23 sentencing.

• Adam E. Cole, 24, 59 S. Oak St., London, was charged with felony domestic violence, stemming from a Dec. 16, 2012 incident at his home.

Nichols appointed Josh Beasley to represent Cole at a May 20 trial. Cole remains in jail under a $100,000 surety bond.

• Ronald (Frank) Morgan, 27, 1508 Children’s Home Road, Urbana, was charged with burglarizing a Plain City-area home on Feb. 21.

Nichols appointed Nick Adkins to represent Morgan at a May 14 trial. Morgan remains in jail under a $75,000 surety bond.

Morgan’s co-defendants, Lauren Kehl, 20, and Ronald J. Moore, 35, are slated for arraignment in coming days.