The Dover man who spent six months in jail for a deadly 2018 fight is going to prison for a violent domestic incident last November.
John L. Tucker, 49, will serve 5 to 7.5 years for felonious assault, abduction, strangulation, intimidation, and violating a protection order. Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Ernest handed down the punishment that was jointly recommended by the prosecution and Tucker’s attorney.
“As I told the attorneys yesterday, this is a case that everyone here has been dealing with for approximately a year or so. John, I respect the fact that these gentlemen would bring forth an agreed-upon jointly recommended sentence that would be appropriate, and I still feel that way.”
Tucker was scheduled to go on trial Wednesday for 11 counts including attempted murder but had that charge and five others dismissed as part of a last-minute plea deal. Assistant County Prosecutor Fred Scott praised the victim for having the courage to come forward.
“I would like to thank her for agreeing to resolve this case in a way that allows that State of Ohio to keep a violent person off the street for five years with a definite term, and I would commend her for showing mercy to John Tucker – far more mercy that John Tucker showed to her on the evening of November 15th, 2023.”
Tucker was previously acquitted of involuntary manslaughter but found guilty of misdemeanor assault for the fight that resulted in the death of 38-year-old Nicholas Winters.
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