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Millersburg Case Study

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MILLERSBURG — A Canton man whose actions triggered an Amber Alert avoided the potential of a lengthy prison term by admitting Monday to a host of charges, absent kidnapping. Jayson Zachary Harper, 31, of 874 The O'Jay's Parkway, pleaded guilty in Holmes County Common Pleas Court to domestic violence, aggravated menacing, endangering children and driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In exchange for his guilty plea, the state dismissed two related charges of kidnapping, eliminating 22 years from his possible sentence. Harper now faces up to 18 months in prison and one year in jail when he is sentenced on Sept. 28. It was with the blessing of the children's mother, who also asked that a no contact order be lifted from Harper's bond, the kidnapping charges were dismissed, said Holmes County Prosecutor Steve Knowling. …show more content…

The charges stem from a July 4 incident originating at a home along Township Road 466. It was there, shortly after midnight, Holmes County sheriff's deputies were called by a woman who said she was forced out of a vehicle by her boyfriend, who had reportedly choked her, said Knowling, adding Harper also used a knife to threaten another man at the party. Harper reportedly fled the property, where they'd been attending a holiday party, in her vehicle, with her two children, ages 2 and 9, in the back seat. The process of issuing an Amber Alert had yet to be completed when, using alternative means, the children were found safe in Canton, according to Sheriff Timothy Zimmerly, who said investigators used GPS navigation to track the woman's cell phone, which was in the vehicle. The cell phone led Canton Police to Harper, who, shortly before 4 a.m., was found sleeping in the stationary vehicle. The children also remained in the vehicle, said Zimmerly. They were released to the custody of their mother, said

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