Former city man sentenced in assault
A former Washington resident was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison Tuesday following his February conviction in February for sexually abusing a young girl.
James Timothy Montgomery, 38, was found guilty of aggravated indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, corruption of minors and indecent exposure after a two-day jury trial before Washington County Judge Valarie Costanzo.
He was accused of sexually assaulting a girl over the course of four years at a home on Arch Street in Washington, beginning when she was 4. Court documents indicate the abuse began in 2004. Deputy District Attorney Traci McDonald-Kemp said the abuse stopped when the girl turned 8, and that the girl reported the abuse last year after undergoing counseling.
At the trial, the defense argued the victim falsely accused Montgomery in retaliation, and that the sexual assault didn’t happen.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Montgomery’s attorney, James R. Jeffries Jr., argued that his client should be housed in a mental health facility. McDonald-Kemp said that request was denied. Jeffries did not return calls for comment.
Montgomery, whose last known address is listed as Canal Winchester, Ohio, also was found to be a sexually violent predator. He is not to have contact with the victim.
He was free on a $100,000 bond until his conviction, when he was taken into custody and placed in Washington County jail. Montgomery will remain at the jail until he is sent to a state prison.