6-month sentence in child sex assault case: 3 things to know

Kenneth Sammons, 25, of Springfield, has been sentenced to six months in jail after being convicted of gross sexual imposition against a child under the age of five in the Clark County Common Pleas Court earlier this month.

Here are three things to know about the case.

» MORE COVERAGE: Springfield man gets six months for sexually assaulting 3-year-old

Child assaulted in a motel room

According to court documents, the mother of the 3-year-old victim in the case contacted authorities after discovering Sammons naked in the bed the three of them were sharing at the Drake Motel in October 2016. The affidavit says the child was sleeping and Sammons was allegedly knowingly assaulting the child and the child’s diaper had still been on during the assault. After the mother confronted Sammons, he forced her to drive him to a friend’s house on Euclid Avenue, then punched her in the head and face while she and the child were still in the vehicle, according to the affidavit. Sammons later said he didn’t know what he was doing that night.

Charged for the worst crime based on the facts

Sammons had been charged with gross sexual imposition, domestic violence and assault, and pleaded to the most serious of the charges. Clark County Common Pleas Court Judge Richard O’Neill sentenced Sammons to six months in the Clark County Jail and ordered him to complete a sex offender treatment program, for a total of one year in incarceration. He faced a maximum of five years. Sammons will also have to serve five years of probation and register as a tier-two sex offender for the next 25 years.

Prosecutors asked for prison time

Assistant Prosecutor Andrew Picek said prosecutors for the case asked for prison time instead of jail given the unique circumstances of the case.

“While we respect the judge’s decision to sentence Sammons to community control, jail and an inpatient secured facility sex offender treatment program, obviously we felt a prison sentence was the more appropriate disposition, and that is why we argued for one at sentencing,” Picek said.

Sammons’ attorney, Anthony Vannoy, didn’t return a phone call seeking comment this week.

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