Wilson
A Franklin man was sentenced to 12 years of supervision for three charges including criminal confinement with a deadly weapon.
Christopher Aaron Wilson, 23, was found guilty of criminal confinement using a deadly weapon, a Level 3 felony, intimidation with a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony, and pointing a firearm at a person, a Level 6 felony, during a bench trial in Johnson County Superior Court 3 on Feb. 24. Judge Douglas Cummins found Wilson guilty of all three charges filed against him following the July 28, 2020 incident in Nineveh.
Wilson has been held in the custody of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office since Feb. 24 and on April 14 he was sentenced to serve 12 years of probation, with six years of work release. When someone is convicted of work release the person must serve time in jail but is required to hold a job while incarcerated. The person goes to work each day but must return to jail after their shift is over.
“This offender will serve 12 years on probation with six years on work release, which is like serving six years in jail. The upside of work release is, the offender has to pay for his own incarceration rather than that burden falling on the taxpayers. In addition, he remains productive as part of the workforce. If he were to escape during his release time, he would serve straight jail time with no release,” Lance Hamner, Johnson County prosecutor, said in a statement on the sentence. “After he finishes the work release portion of his probation, he will still remain on probation for another six years.”
The sentence stems from a July 28, 2020, report of confinement with a firearm in the 1000 block of East 775 South. Two witnesses told Johnson County deputies Wilson and a woman arrived at the house arguing. During the altercation, both witnesses heard Wilson threaten to kill the woman then himself, they told deputies.
The woman told deputies Wilson forced her into the bedroom where he locked the door, retrieved a gun from a safe and pointed it at her, at times touching her head and chest with the barrel, according to court documents.
During the altercation, the woman grabbed a metal bar and swung it at Wilson, but missed. Wilson dropped the gun at that time, but they continued to the argument, the victim said.
She told deputies she felt afraid, panicked and threatened, documents show.
Prosecutors offered evidence that an argument escalated out of control and that eventually, Wilson held the victim at gunpoint.
Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office Victims’ Advocate Ashley Teter and Deputy Prosecutor Bryan Smith praised the woman for standing up to her abuser.
“The victim testified at trial and at sentencing, and she impressed us with her bravery and strength to testify in front of her abuser and to tell the truth of their relationship, the effects of the abuse, and all of the work she has done to heal from the abuse she received from Wilson,” Smith said in a statement.
Hamner said further he said was very proud of the “outstanding work” Smith did prosecuting this case.
Numerous resources are available for victims of domestic violence. Columbus-based Turning Point Domestic Violence Services’ 24-hour Crisis Helpline can be reached at 1-800-221-6311. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached by calling 1-800-799-7233, or texting START to 88788. A live chat is also available.
