News Channel 4

Watch a previous report on the Tissel case in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) --  A man accused of using hidden cameras to record an underaged juvenile inside her home has pleaded guilty to three of six charges.

According to court records, Brian Trissel, 52, of Westerville, was charged with two counts each of pandering obscenity of a minor, tampering with evidence, and voyeurism; he pleaded guilty to one count of each charge, and in exchange for his guilty plea, the three other charges were dropped.

According to Grandview police, a complaint was received on Aug. 30, 2023, that a girl found what appeared to be hidden cameras inside her home. She told another person, who reported the finding to the police.

Police said that cameras were found in locations “that would capture them in a private setting and in various states of nudity” and that it is believed numerous recordings of the victim were made over an extended period.

Trissel is scheduled to be sentenced on May 30 following a pre-sentence investigation.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- In front of over 80,000 fans at Ohio Stadium, Ohio State put on a show that offered glimpses of what the Buckeyes could be when they return to the field this fall.

With Scarlet representing the offense and the defense donned in Gray, Scarlet defeated Gray, 34-33 in the annual spring game.

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Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka made a one-handed grab in the second quarter that lit up the crowd while quarterback Devin Brown through the first touchdown of the contest with a throw to Brennan Schramm, giving Scarlet a 13-12 lead.

TC Caffey, James Peoples and Sam Williams-Dixon scored touchdowns in the second half. Jaylen McClain had a highlight worthy interception of Sayin in the first half.

Watch head coach Ryan Day, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly in a post-game press conference in the video player below.

Kansas State transfer Will Howard was the first quarterback on the field and went 9-for-13 for 77 yards in the first half. Lincoln Keinholz and Julian Sayin also saw significant playing time in the quarterback position.

The spring game was also the first chance for fans to see new faces on the Buckeyes roster, including running back Quinshon Judkins, center Seth McLaughlin and safety Caleb Downs.

Saturday also marked the first time on the Buckeyes sidelines for offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chip Kelly, running backs coach Carlos Locklyn and safeties coach Matt Guerrieri. James Laurinaitis made his debut as the Ohio State linebackers coach.

Ohio State will open the 2024 season on August 31 against Akron.

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – One of two brothers accused of killing a man whose body was found behind a dumpster pleaded guilty in court Thursday.

In Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, 24-year-old Michael Mickens III entered a plea of guilty for the murder of Isaiah Thompson-Angus, who was found next to an Italian Village dumpster on June 19, 2023.

Former Upper Arlington teacher accused of rape sentenced with no sex offender registration

Columbus police said that at 4:15 a.m. that morning, officers found Thompson-Angus near the 1000 block of North 4th Street lying next to a dumpster with a gunshot wound to the head. Video surveillance captured the moments leading up to the fatal shooting.

At around 2:24 a.m., a camera spotted Thompson-Angus walking back to the dumpster with another man before they began fighting. Another man and a woman then ran up to the two, and the third man also reached into his front shorts pocket before joining in.

Shortly after the third man and woman got to the dumpster, the video showed all three leaving quickly. Three weeks later Mickens III and his brother Micheal Mickens Jr. were named as suspects and charged with murder. The two were arrested days apart in July.

From the plea agreement, Mickens III will serve 15 years to life in prison. A trial for Mickens Jr. has yet to begin. He has pleaded not guilty to murder, aggravated murder, felonious assault, and kidnapping.

Micheal Mickens III (left) and Michael Mickens Jr. (right) have been issued arrest warrants and have been charged with murder in connection to the death of man in Italian Village on June 19. (Courtesy Photos/Columbus Division of Police)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered U.S. and Ohio flags to be flown at half-staff.

Flags have been lowered on Ohio's public buildings and grounds throughout Cuyahoga County, the Statehouse, the Vern Riffe Center and the Rhodes Tower since Thursday in honor of former State Senator C.J. Prentiss, who died on April 2 at age 82 after a prolonged illness. DeWine ordered flags to be flown at half-staff until sunset on Saturday for her funeral.

A pioneering civil rights advocate, Prentiss was a member of the State Board of Education from 1985 until 1990 before serving in the Ohio General Assembly as a Democrat from 1991 to 2006. In 1005, she become the second Black woman to serve as Senate minority leader and was also the first female president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus.

Prentiss earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, a master's degree in education from Cleveland State University, and a post-graduate certificate in Administration from Kent State University. C.J. also attended the advanced management program at Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management.

The Democrat was instrumental is organizing a statewide coalition to put a minimum wage increase on the ballot in 2006, The amendment passed, raising the minimum wage and ensuring future increases to keep up with inflation.

When Senate colleagues refused to fund a House-passed breakfast program for students, Prentiss went on a 10-day hunger strike. The opposition folded, and the program, which largely benefited students from poor Appalachian families, was funded.

"Her contributions to education, social justice, and much more, have left a lasting impact on the State of Ohio," said Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) President Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland). "Her dedication to representing marginalized voices and improving our state will be remembered and cherished. Senator Prentiss’s legacy of service and advocacy will continue to inspire us all."

While inflation has fallen from 2022 peaks, high prices are still eating into household budgets. Many Americans are paying keen attention to their finances and finding ways to reduce spending.

Home prices, rent, and food inflation, as well as higher prices for gas in the last couple of years, are making it so that each dollar earned has even less purchasing power than before. In the first two months of 2024, Americans were able to save about 3.9% of their disposable income, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, well below historic levels.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the lowest cost of living in Ohio using rankings from Niche.

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#30. Huron County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 1,100
- Population: 58,518
- Median household income: $64,144
- Median home value: $151,600 (73% own)
- Median rent: $805 (27% rent)

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#29. Trumbull County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 1,075
- Population: 201,749
- Median household income: $53,537
- Median home value: $121,400 (72% own)
- Median rent: $752 (28% rent)

3 / 30 The American Explorer // Shutterstock

#28. Lawrence County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 1,061
- Population: 57,994
- Median household income: $51,846
- Median home value: $127,900 (73% own)
- Median rent: $806 (27% rent)

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#27. Mercer County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 1,035
- Population: 42,321
- Median household income: $73,278
- Median home value: $192,800 (79% own)
- Median rent: $749 (21% rent)

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#26. Brown County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 1,034
- Population: 43,715
- Median household income: $66,677
- Median home value: $164,500 (75% own)
- Median rent: $785 (25% rent)

6 / 30 Henryk Sadura // Shutterstock

#25. Sandusky County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 1,006
- Population: 58,885
- Median household income: $60,814
- Median home value: $142,300 (74% own)
- Median rent: $756 (26% rent)

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#24. Gallia County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 968
- Population: 29,276
- Median household income: $55,533
- Median home value: $134,000 (76% own)
- Median rent: $803 (24% rent)

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#23. Darke County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 965
- Population: 51,751
- Median household income: $60,237
- Median home value: $157,800 (72% own)
- Median rent: $731 (28% rent)

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#22. Highland County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 935
- Population: 43,285
- Median household income: $60,522
- Median home value: $146,300 (73% own)
- Median rent: $736 (27% rent)

10 / 30 Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

#21. Williams County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 924
- Population: 36,973
- Median household income: $60,632
- Median home value: $131,100 (75% own)
- Median rent: $771 (25% rent)

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#20. Crawford County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 919
- Population: 41,861
- Median household income: $52,486
- Median home value: $117,000 (69% own)
- Median rent: $746 (31% rent)

12 / 30 Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

#19. Defiance County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 917
- Population: 38,300
- Median household income: $69,302
- Median home value: $147,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $808 (23% rent)

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#18. Hardin County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 907
- Population: 30,622
- Median household income: $55,876
- Median home value: $125,600 (74% own)
- Median rent: $755 (26% rent)

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#17. Auglaize County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 897
- Population: 46,263
- Median household income: $75,231
- Median home value: $168,200 (77% own)
- Median rent: $815 (23% rent)

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#16. Perry County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 851
- Population: 35,451
- Median household income: $62,899
- Median home value: $161,300 (76% own)
- Median rent: $695 (24% rent)

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#15. Putnam County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 837
- Population: 34,400
- Median household income: $79,453
- Median home value: $176,200 (86% own)
- Median rent: $807 (14% rent)

17 / 30 Madison Muskopf // Shutterstock

#14. Coshocton County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 795
- Population: 36,629
- Median household income: $52,048
- Median home value: $128,600 (72% own)
- Median rent: $694 (28% rent)

18 / 30 James Marciniak // Shutterstock

#13. Jackson County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 787
- Population: 32,563
- Median household income: $56,549
- Median home value: $127,500 (74% own)
- Median rent: $744 (26% rent)

19 / 30 JNix // Shutterstock

#12. Belmont County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 781
- Population: 66,554
- Median household income: $56,943
- Median home value: $130,200 (75% own)
- Median rent: $754 (25% rent)

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#11. Seneca County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 766
- Population: 55,062
- Median household income: $62,476
- Median home value: $128,100 (72% own)
- Median rent: $789 (28% rent)

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#10. Jefferson County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 755
- Population: 65,280
- Median household income: $53,124
- Median home value: $115,100 (71% own)
- Median rent: $760 (29% rent)

22 / 30 The American Explorer // Shutterstock

#9. Vinton County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 728
- Population: 12,790
- Median household income: $50,967
- Median home value: $123,400 (75% own)
- Median rent: $675 (25% rent)

23 / 30 Kenneth Keifer // Shutterstock

#8. Noble County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 704
- Population: 14,216
- Median household income: $51,547
- Median home value: $137,500 (80% own)
- Median rent: $716 (20% rent)

24 / 30 JNix // Shutterstock

#7. Columbiana County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 690
- Population: 101,723
- Median household income: $55,473
- Median home value: $124,400 (73% own)
- Median rent: $696 (27% rent)

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#6. Wyandot County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 661
- Population: 21,818
- Median household income: $68,552
- Median home value: $154,200 (74% own)
- Median rent: $753 (26% rent)

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#5. Meigs County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 598
- Population: 22,242
- Median household income: $46,255
- Median home value: $104,400 (75% own)
- Median rent: $689 (25% rent)

27 / 30 Nagel Photography // Shutterstock

#4. Van Wert County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 532
- Population: 28,833
- Median household income: $64,841
- Median home value: $129,300 (79% own)
- Median rent: $769 (21% rent)

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#3. Morgan County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 501
- Population: 13,851
- Median household income: $51,056
- Median home value: $121,200 (76% own)
- Median rent: $689 (24% rent)

29 / 30 Anne Kitzman // Shutterstock

#2. Paulding County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 431
- Population: 18,827
- Median household income: $65,331
- Median home value: $122,200 (81% own)
- Median rent: $718 (19% rent)

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#1. Harrison County, Ohio

- Overall Rank: 409
- Population: 14,528
- Median household income: $54,056
- Median home value: $112,500 (78% own)
- Median rent: $682 (22% rent)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 32 states.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A man is dead after being shot late Friday evening in northeast Columbus during a house party.

According to Columbus police, 36-year-old Isaac Price was attending a party at the 2000 block of Lisa Drive in the North Central neighborhood. A little before 11:30 p.m., Price was engaged in an argument that escalated, resulting in him being shot.

Ohio Uber driver killed in shooting after being sent to pick up scammer’s package

CPD officers arrived and pronounced Price dead at the scene at 11:23 p.m. Anyone with information on the homicide is asked to call police at 614-581-7112.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A man has been sentenced to prison time at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for a fatal gas station shooting last year.

Malike D. Miller, 23, received a 7 year sentence to be served at ODRC on Thursday. The incident leading to his arrest was a fatal shooting at a southeast Columbus Sheetz store, located on the 3000 block of South Hamilton Road.

Ohio Uber driver killed in shooting after being sent to pick up scammer’s package

At the time, police said officers responded to the store at approximately 4:22 a.m., where they found Jared B. Porter, 23, had been shot. The victim was later pronounced dead.

Miller received his sentence after entering a guilty plea to the stipulated lesser included offense of attempted improper discharge of a firearm into a habitation, with a one year firearm specification, a third-degree felony, and having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – High school graduation is right around the corner and all the changes to the financial aid form, known as FAFSA, is creating a lot of uncertainty for students headed off to college. 

The new “simplified” student aid form was supposed to be easier for families to fill out and expand the number of students eligible for federal aid. So far, it’s been anything but simple. 

Ohio Uber driver killed in shooting after being sent to pick up scammer’s package

“It's heartbreaking, to be quite honest,” said Kirsten Crotte, senior director for enrollment operations and student financial aid at Otterbein University. 

Crotte has a senior in high school herself, so she said she understands the frustration.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Education announced that colleges and universities would not receive free applications for federal student aid application information for the 2024/25 academic year until the first half of March. 

“The goal of this FAFSA simplification was to increase aid eligibility to families. And I do think that in the end, that will be the case. The issue we face right now is timing and that uncertainty piece,” said Crotte. 

Due to this, many colleges and universities have had to push back their enrollment deadline. The Ohio State University delayed theirs until May 15th. However, that’s not necessarily the case for Cedarville or Otterbein. 

“Our deposits of people who are interested in coming to Cedarville University, were looking fairly strong, especially given the context of where we are,” said Kim Jenerette, the executive director for financial aid at Cedarville University. 

Thursday night, Cedarville sent out just under 1,600 aid awards, and Otterbein has sent out around 1,300. 

“We're getting ready to rally and get awards out to our returning students as well. Who, let's face it, that's a huge piece to these students who are getting ready to leave and go home and they're not sure what next year looks like either,” said Crotte. 

Of the aid applications that have been submitted, 40% have errors that won’t be fixed quickly, according to the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. Right now, it’s all about being patient. 

“Fortunately, we're finally getting to the point where we can move forward and assist families very tangibly,” said Jenerette. 

This may impact enrollment. Both Otterbein and Cedarville tell NBC4 that as of right now they seem to be on pace, but recently there’s been a decrease nationwide as families are waiting to see what aid they’ll get before making a decision.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Republican state lawmakers want to be sure no one can claim rights to your property through new legislation.

House Bill 478, sponsored by Representatives Jeff LaRe (R-Violet Township) and Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) and House Bill 480, sponsored by Representatives Tom Young (R-Washington Township) and Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Township) are nearly identical, and aim to solve the same issue.

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Young said he was motivated to draft the legislation after a viral TikTok video that he said showed someone “positing instructions” on how to take someone’s personal property.

“This was a wakeup call and an opportunity for us to do something about it,” Representative Tom Young (R-Washington Township) said. “These are Ohioan’s properties, these are investor’s properties, they are not some 15 seconds of fame for somebody who was obviously in the wrong.”

“We don’t see the problems with squatting in what has kind of become a viral conservative social media talking point,” Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said.

LaRe said while the issue is not largely prevalent in Ohio, it is important to address it now.

“As we find loopholes that have been created inadvertently, it’s important we give them attention,” LaRe said. “It’s more a preemptive measure, especially with all the issues we’ve got at the border and the illegals are hitting our state now.”

Officials in the City of Cleveland said squatters are an issue.

“That said, the majority of cases of squatting in Cleveland occur in vacant and abandoned homes where the owner is not actively attempting to remove the squatters,” a spokesperson wrote.

Right now, LaRe said his concern is, for example, if someone is on vacation or renovating their home, and someone else moves in and claims squatter rights.

“And when you call law enforcement to have them removed, should they present what would be a fake lease, it kind of takes the power away from our law enforcement because it becomes a civil matter at that point,” LaRe said.

Under the new bills, there is an affidavit someone can sign saying it is their home.

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“To have those individuals removed immediately,” LaRe said.

“This whole notion that you go on vacation, you come back and someone’s living in your house, that’s just not something that’s happening in Columbus and Franklin County,” Klein said. “I am unaware of any other situations that are happening that involve someone just showing up with a fake lease.”

Mahoning County Prosecutors, in Youngstown, said they don’t see squatting instances very often but would “tend to agree with the legislations’ premise,” at a first glance. They had not yet read the legislation. They said typically the process to remove a squatter takes less than 30 days, but they would not be opposed to an expedited process.

Klein said he thinks the state’s laws are solid as is and Franklin County, which is the state’s largest, has never run into issues removing squatters, as far as he knows.

“If you’re in someone’s house illegally, which would be squatting, police can come and will arrest you or cite you and get you out of the house,” Klein said. “We are going to hold those people accountable and property rights are sacred I this country.”

Klein said he is concerned about some of the viral social media posts that spread what he called “misinformation,” about the claiming rights to someone else’s property.

HB 478 also creates criminal offenses for squatters who damage someone else’s property. If the violation causes damage of more than $5,000, it is a fourth degree felony, otherwise it is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

HB 480 does have an emergency clause attached, meaning if it did pass the statehouse, it would become effective immediately upon the governor’s signature.

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The City of Cleveland said they are in the process of examining the “nuances” of bills, saying if there are equity impacts that undermine the Ohio Landlord Tenant Law, they would not support it.

At least 28 house republicans support the measure, though a spokesperson for the House Speaker said he has not taken a stance on it yet. A spokesperson for House democrats declined to comment on the legislation at this point.

SUNBURY, Ohio (WCMH) -- Twenty of the forty dogs recently seized from a Sunbury property are being taken care of at the Humane Society of Delaware County.

The property owner is facing 30 charges. The seizure happened after video showing the dogs' living conditions went viral on social media. The dogs were attached to metal chains, they were surrounded by mud and water, and their shelters were blue water bins.

Ohio Uber driver killed in shooting after being sent to pick up scammer’s package

“They’ve all been really sweet, they’ve all been very nice, little scared, timid, I would be too," said Jana Cassidy, Executive Director of HSDC, about the dogs in the shelter's care.

Since the case is still active, NBC4 cannot see or get updated video of the dogs. But Cassidy said they are doing well.

“We’ve been very pleased with how they’re doing with their disposition, they’ve been  great with all the staff," Cassidy said.

This is one of the largest dog cases HSDC has dealt with, according to Cassidy. She said space is the biggest challenge.

“Our capacity for care in this building when it comes to dogs is 29 and we’re sitting on 20 of these dogs from this case," Cassidy said.

The other 20 dogs are with the Delaware County Dog Warden. Caring for the 20 dogs at HSDC would cost more than $13,000 dollars a month, according to the shelter. The shelter is not funded by tax dollars. Cassidy said the most impactful ways people can help are through adopting or fostering animals not from this case to create more space, getting things on the needs list, or donating.

Pammy Maye admits in video to killing 5-year-old boy from Ohio Amber Alert

“We still have other activities that need to happen. Just because we have this 40 dog case, there’s still cat issues, there’s still other humane complaints, we still have the normal everyday activities that need to occur here," Cassidy said. "We all love animals, we’re all trying to do the right thing by these dogs."

There is a custody hearing next week, according to Cassidy.

The following story and the above video contain graphic information related to the murder of Darnell Taylor. Viewer discretion is advised.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The woman accused of killing a Columbus boy repeatedly confessed to law enforcement that she suffocated him before dumping his body in a sewage drain, according to body camera footage from officers who interviewed her.

In a hospital bed near Cleveland the night she was found, Pammy Maye described to law enforcement how she suffocated 5-year-old Darnell Taylor with a trash bag and then placed his body in a sewage drain near her parents' house. Maye was Taylor's legal guardian, and she told detectives that she killed him because he ate snacks in bed.

Taylor's disappearance in February triggered a statewide Amber Alert, and Maye was soon after named as the suspected abductor. She was found in the Cleveland suburb of Brooklyn two days after Taylor's disappearance, and Taylor's body was found in southwest Columbus hours later.

"There's no chance your son is alive?" an officer asked Maye in the bodycam footage.

"No, he's not," Maye replied. "And I did it."

Ohio Uber driver killed in shooting after being sent to pick up scammer’s package

Later, after Maye described the area where she left Taylor, a Columbus police detective read Maye her Miranda rights. She waived her rights orally and in writing, the footage shows. Then Maye described, in detail, how and why she killed Taylor.

Maye repeatedly referred to the killing as premeditated, explaining to law enforcement how on Feb. 13, hours after she learned Taylor had eaten in bed, she went to his bedroom with a trash bag. She placed him in the bag, tied it, and waited 10 minutes, she said.

Maye said she knew Taylor was dead because his body wasn't moving. She then placed his body, still in the bag, in a closet. When her husband came home, Maye said he thought Taylor was asleep. At about 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 14, she took Taylor's body to the 1000 block of Marsdale Avenue.

Maye told law enforcement that she was the disciplinarian of the family, saying she was "harsh" to Taylor, citing his behavioral issues. She explained that she wanted to confess to her husband before the police were involved.

"That's not fair, what I did to my son," Maye said.

Maye has been charged with aggravated murder, abuse of a corpse, and three counts of tampering with evidence. Her attorney previously said he plans to argue Maye was not guilty by reason of insanity due to her mental state at the time of the killing. He told NBC4 on Friday that the bodycam video only tells one part of the story crucial to the case.

"The post-arrest statements are critical to the investigation, but they are not dispositive of her mental state at the time of her son's death," Shamansky said.

Maye's next court appearance is April 25.

SOUTH CHARLESTON, Ohio (WCMH) -- Deputies in Clark County have arrested an elderly man accused of murdering an Uber driver while both were being targeted by a "scam call."

William Brock, 81, faces a felony charge of murder with additional counts possible, according to the Clark County Sheriff's Office. Investigators accused him of shooting Loletha Hall multiple times after she went to his house on an Uber assignment.

Investigators first came to Brock’s property, about four miles west of South Charleston in Clark County, when he called them and said he shot someone attempting a robbery. The sheriff's office said when deputies and multiple other agencies arrived, they found Hall on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds, and Brock with injuries to his head and an ear.

William Brock. (Courtesy Photo/Clark County Sheriff's Office)

Earlier, a male scammer had called Brock and told him one of his relatives was in jail. The scammer then threatened the 81-year-old man and demanded money. Simultaneously, that same scammer or an accomplice placed an order on the Uber app for Hall to pick up a package for delivery from Brock's property. She wasn't aware of the calls Brock had received when she arrived at his home, according to investigators.

The Uber driver was unarmed, did not make any threats or demands and did not attack Brock. Hall only approached Brock's home and asked about the package she was sent to pick up through the app, the sheriff's office said. In response, Brock pulled out a firearm and held her at gunpoint, demanding to know the identities of the scammers. He also took Hall's phone to prevent her from making calls, and the sheriff's office said Brock did not call 911 either.

When Hall tried to get in her car to get away, Brock shot her. During a struggle between the two at the car door, he shot her two more times, investigators noted. After this exchange, Brock called 911.

Deputies arrested Brock on the murder charge because they said Hall did not present any active threat during the encounter, nor did Brock try to summon help during their interaction. The Clark County Sheriff's Office said it is now investigating the scam calls and Uber app order that led to the shooting, and looking for the man or accomplices that coordinated the incident.

View a previous report when Joel Cutler's plea deal was pending in the video player above.

UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) – A former teacher and coach for the Upper Arlington accused of raping a student received his sentence in relation to a plea agreement on a lesser charge.

Joel Cutler was facing nine charges, including four counts of sexual battery, three counts of sexual conduct with a minor and two counts of rape. But in November 2023 prosecutors and Cutler’s defense team reached a plea deal earlier in 2023, which removed all of the above charges and swapped in a single felony count of child endangerment.

Under the new charge, Cutler would receive no more than six months of jail time, a $10,000 fine, 10,000 hours of community service and five years of community control. Because there were no longer sex offense charges against him, Cutler won’t have to register as a sex offender. But he did voluntarily surrender his teaching and coaching licenses, and resigned from the Upper Arlington school district.

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On Friday, a Madison County Court of Common Pleas judge sentenced Cutler to three months in jail and serve five years of community control. Cutler will be able to work out a schedule so that he can both work and serve his term, saying that Cutler's family relies on his income.

The plea agreement drew ire from the victim, Essie Baird, who came forward publicly and asked the judge to reject it. In June 2022, the former Hastings Middle School student came forward and accused Joel Cutler of sexually assaulting her from 2000 to 2003, leading to the indictment.

Baird, who spoke with NBC4 in an exclusive interview on Nov. 16, said prosecutors never notified her of the plea deal being offered, a violation of Marsy’s Law. She called the child endangerment charge “baseless.” She previously wrote a letter to Judge Dan Hogan in opposition to the agreement after learning about it.

Joel Cutler, a former Upper Arlington teacher and football coach, appears in court. (NBC4 File Photo)

Prosecutors, who would not speak on camera with NBC4, said they analyzed the risk of going to trial alongside the strengths and weaknesses of the case, and believed the deal was a fair settlement.

Cutler was placed on leave from the Upper Arlington School District in 2021. He previously had been a high school football coach in the area, at Upper Arlington from 2014 to ’18 and at Bishop Ready from 2012 to ’13 as well as from 2019 to ’20.

Ohio Native Plant Month: What could grow in your garden this April

After the hearing, Baird said she was very upset with the outcome of today’s outcome and that the process felt like a waste of her time. But she doesn’t regret coming forward and hopes other children do not have to go through the same experience.

“If a teacher is having these types of inappropriate relationships with you, you are being abused. I know you don’t understand it yet, but you will. Please pay attention to these stories, please talk to your parents. They will love you no matter what. You will be okay if you tell them what’s going on.”

Baird said she will continue to focus her energy on fighting for the rights of child victims and supporting House Bill 322, which would make acts of grooming a crime in Ohio.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather

WIND ADVISORY

Cooler and windy conditions developed behind a departing storm system over Ontario, with lingering showers rotating around the low-pressure area. Temperatures will be stuck in the low 50s, with a chilly west wind gusting around 30 mph.

Sunny and mild weather is expected Saturday, as high pressure extends northward from the Southern States, allowing temperatures to rebound into the seasonable low 60s. Clouds will drift in late in the day, and a shower is possible after midnight with a warm front.

Sunday will be breezy and warmer, with a mix of sun and clouds. A broken line of showers and scattered storms will develop ahead of a cold front toward evening with a disturbance moving across the Great Lakes.

May warmth will arrive next week, bringing afternoon temperatures in the 70s. A large storm in the middle of the country will pull moisture into the region midweek, with brisk southerly winds, and scattered mainly late-day showers and storms.

Forecast

• Friday: Showers, windy, cooler. High 53
• Tonight: Gradual clearing. Low 42
• Saturday: Sunny, seasonable. High 63
• Sunday: Partly sunny, breezy, shower late. High 75 (48)
• Monday: Mostly sunny, warm. High 75 (57)
• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, breezy. High 77 (58)
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, few shower. High 78 (62)
• Thursday: Showers, storms. High 78 (61)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Decades of intervention to bring back a waterfowl population that had been wiped out in the Buckeye State have come to a close according to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

ODNR Director Mary Mertz announced on Friday that the trumpeter swan was voted off the state’s threatened species list by the Ohio Wildlife Council. A news release from DeWine's office stated that the "delisting culminates a 28-year effort by the ODNR Division of Wildlife to restore a population of trumpeter swans in Ohio."

“Ohio’s professional wildlife biologists dedicated themselves to growing the trumpeter swan population over nearly three decades, and their perseverance has paid off,” DeWine said. “In addition to monitoring the growth of the trumpeter swan population, a great deal of work also went into creating and restoring wetland habitat needed for generations of trumpeters to nest and thrive.”

Ohio Native Plant Month: What could grow in your garden this April

Destruction of trumpeter swan populations began in the 1700s and 1800s in North America because of "unregulated harvest and wetland habitat loss." In Ohio, the birds were eradicated "as early as the 1700s."

Trumpeter Swan Pair - Adobe Stock

Following a trend that started in other parts of the Midwest, ODNR began its trumpeter swan reintroduction program in 1996 with help from the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and The Wilds of the Columbus Zoo. The zoos raised young trumpeters from eggs brought to the state via a game refuge in Alaska. The animals were then released into the wild.

Listed as an endangered species when they were first introduced, the swans were downgraded to threatened status in 2012.

“Trumpeter swans represent a great comeback story for Ohio. This is just one of many examples of the conservation work ODNR has been doing for the last 75 years,” said Director Mertz. “Through the hard work and dedication of our staff and conservation partners we can once again see trumpeter swans fly through Ohio’s skies.”

An official 2010 plan set the goal of "delisting trumpeter swans when the population reached 40 or more breeding pairs for three consecutive years" and included a prerequisite of having the birds breed in at least 15 counties.

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In 2015 more than 40 breeding pairs were identified and this number has been confirmed annually. By 2023 biologists found 152 breeding pairs. Currently, the birds have been found nesting in 26 counties, with an estimated population of nearly 900 across the state.

The trumpeter swan reintroduction is considered a "monumental conservation success story in Ohio similar to bringing back bald eagle and osprey populations." In Ohio, the birds are still granted protection by federal and state wildlife laws and efforts to increase their numbers will continue.

GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) - A footwear company that started in Minnesota has opened a new location in central Ohio.

Red Wing Shoes recently opened to customers at 1720 Stringtown Road in Grove City. According to the city's Chamber of Commerce, the shoe store held its grand opening on March 27 celebrating the location.

• Footwear company Red Wing Shoes celebrating new opening in Grove City. (Courtesy: Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce)
• Footwear company Red Wing Shoes celebrating new opening in Grove City. (Courtesy: Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce)
• Footwear company Red Wing Shoes celebrating new opening in Grove City. (Courtesy: Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce)
• (Courtesy: Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce)

The family-owned business started in 1905 in Red Wing, Minnesota, according to the company website. Red Wing offers a variety of options from boots and shoes, to leather goods like belts, wallets, and more. The shop also has accessories including hats, socks, safety gloves and products for shoe care.

The Grove City spot isn't the shoe company's only Ohio location, Red Wing has several shops including a Columbus location on West Broad Street and Sawmill Road, East Main Street in Reynoldsburg, Coughlin Lane in Delaware and West Schrock Road in Westerville.

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The shop is located in Grove City's Parkway Centre-North Shopping Center. Red Wing Shoes is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Lewis Center site once home to a Wendy's and Tim Hortons and then left abandoned has finally found a new tenant.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen soft opened its new restaurant at 9037 Owenfield Drive earlier this month, and will officially welcome chicken sandwich enthusiasts with a grand-opening celebration on May 9. The site is operated by the Gilligan Company, a Cincinnati-based franchisee that owns an array of chain restaurants in Ohio.

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The Popeyes was built from scratch after the building housing a combination Wendy's and Tim Hortons was demolished. Wendy's and Tim Hortons had closed several years before the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the structure abandoned for several years.

Wendy's and Tim Hortons had closed several years before the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the structure abandoned for several years. (Delaware County Auditor's Office)

Gilligan's new Popeyes comes after the company opened another location last year at 9980 Johnstown Road in New Albany, with a third new restaurant planned for 7072 Sawmill Road near Dublin. The new locations add to Gilligan's other Popeyes near Cincinnati and in Indiana.

Gilligan also operates a series of Dunkin's locations in central Ohio, including the company's former Subway location at 1576 W. 5th Avenue near Grandview which was transformed into a Dunkin' several years ago. The company still owns a few central Ohio subway locations, along with several convenience stores and gas stations.

Popeyes is just one of several new food offerings to open in Lewis Center, including a shop boasted as Ohio's "biggest coffeehouse." Named Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co., the Michigan-based brand is now welcoming patrons to the new shop at 8911 S. Old State Road near Polaris Fashion Place.

Ohio Native Plant Month: What could grow in your garden this April

In addition, a Columbus restaurateur who owns a trio of Asian fusion eateries in central Ohio is expanding with a new create-your-own stir fry restaurant in Lewis Center. WY Mongolian Grill is opening this spring at 833 Columbus Pike, taking over a 6,000-square-foot building previously home to Asian Garden Buffet.

Lewis Center's new Popeyes is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) – A Delaware County woman facing felony charges related to the abuse of children was indicted this week.

According to the Delaware Court of Common Pleas, Rhonda Coomes of Randor was arrested Jan. 26 and initially charged with one count of kidnaping. At the time, the sheriff’s office said the charge was a “placeholder” and that Coomes, who owned and operated her own in-home daycare, would likely “be charged with felonies related to her physical abuse of more than a half-dozen different kids.”

On Wednesday a grand jury returned an indictment of 17 charges. They include:

• Three counts of kidnaping
• 14 counts of endangering children

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The charges encompass a timeframe between January 2021 through September 2023 and involve eight children under the age of 13.  Among the charges are accusations of torture, abuse, restraint, physical harm. The kidnaping charge is a first-degree felony, and the child endangerment charge constitutes a third-degree felony.

Coomes was originally issued a $500,000 bond for one kidnaping charge in February. She will next appear in court Monday for an arraignment hearing on all 17 charges.

Rhonda Coomes (Courtesy/Delaware County Jail)

According to court documents, in September, Coomes allegedly injured a 10-month-old girl by hitting her multiple times in the face with the palm of her hand and six times with a “hard plastic diaper wipe container.” The child suffered a black eye, court records state.

Coomes also allegedly threw the child onto her back into a playpen and then hit her, according to court records.

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“The defendant had her restrained to the highchair or restrained to a chair, struck the child on a number of occasions with an open hand to the face, then used a hard plastic diaper wipe container to strike the infant again repeatedly in the face,” said Mark Sleeper, a Delaware County assistant prosecutor.

That same day, Coomes allegedly abused a 3-year-old for not eating fast enough. She is now accused of abusing six additional children.

If you believe child abuse and neglect is happening, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has launched 855-OH-Child (855-642-4453), an automated telephone directory that will link callers to a child welfare of law enforcement office in their county.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Ohio State spring football game is set for Saturday and fans are expected to pack Ohio Stadium to see what the Buckeyes have been working on since March 5.

There are plenty of new faces (Will Howard, Caleb Downs, Seth McLaughlin) mixed in with some familiar, experienced players (TreVeyon Henderson, Devin Brown, Jack Sawyer). And as Ryan Day returns for his sixth season as head coach, there are new additions to the coaching staff, including former UCLA head coach Chip Kelly, who comes in as the Buckeyes offensive coordinator.

Kickoff for the annual spring game is set for noon. Here's a look at three things to watch for on Saturday.

Ohio State offensive line taking shape with Seth McLaughlin seeking a role The quarterback battle

With Kyle McCord gone, the quarterback room is crowded with returning players and fresh faces, including a transfer out of Kansas State, who's been considered to be the frontrunner for the starting position this entire spring.

Former Wildcats QB Will Howard has sounded poised and ready to be a leader since his arrival in Columbus. And after winning a Big 12 title with Kansas State, Howard has his sights set on winning a championship with the Buckeyes.

“I’ve got one more year. I didn’t come here to be nervous or to be timid or anything like that. I’m ready to go,” Howard said. “Nothing is too big for me, nothing is too big for this team — certainly not spring ball. It’s going to be a lot of learning across the board. But I’m excited for that. I want to embrace that.”

Challenging Howard for the starting spot is Lincoln Keinholz and Devin Brown. Both rotated with the first team during the "Student Appreciation Day" scrimmage and Brown, who started for Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, is as eager as anyone to compete for the title of QB1.

“I have all the confidence in the world. I’ll never doubt myself," Brown said. "I’ll never have any waivers or anything like that. I’m always going to think I’m the best quarterback in the room, I’m the best quarterback in the country. So I’m going to attack it like that.”

No matter who takes the first reps on Saturday, don't expect a concrete answer to who the starting quarterback will be this fall. But we should see significant action from at least Howard and Brown, with Keinholz expected to get in the mix as well.

A first look at Chip Kelly's offense with the Buckeyes

When Bill O'Brien left to become the head coach at Boston College, it didn't take long for Ryan Day to make the call to his old friend and former boss, Chip Kelly. Their relationship goes back decades to their time in New Hampshire and now the two are reunited with the goals of beating Michigan and winning a national championship.

Kelly is expected to take over play-calling duties but said that the decision-making will be very collaborative with Day.

“By that I mean if it’s a good play, I called it, and if it’s a bad play, [Day] called it,” Kelly said to a round of laughter from reporters.

Kelly will also be taking over as the quarterbacks coach, a task he got the itch to do again during bowl preparations at UCLA last year after his quarterbacks coach left for Oregon State.

“I just started to think, I hadn’t actually coached a position since 2008. And I think my wife remarked, ‘I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time.’ To me, the best part of football is football,” Kelly said.

His experience speaks for itself with success at both the professional and college levels. Whatever we see on Saturday on the offensive side of the ball, Kelly likely had a hand in creating it.

The starting five on the offensive line

One of the more competitive position battles in the spring, other than quarterback, has been with the unit designed to protect the QB. And among the players vying for a spot on the starting five is former Alabama center Seth McLaughlin.

“He just jumped right in. Unbelievable job both ways. Of him just coming in, shelving the ego. He really had none,” offensive line coach Justin Frye said. “There’s a learning curve there, it’s just circling back to what he had…. So you’re still learning new terminology and you’re learning a new skill set. But he just dove right in and wanted to be a sponge and wanted to learn and he’s improving every day.”

McLaughlin is eager to put his past mistakes as Alabama's center in the rearview mirror. But he hasn't viewed the past 14 spring practices as a competition.

“I think the best five guys are going to play whatever that may be and I’m thankful that’s not my decision to make, that’s the coaches. But it’s been good,” McLaughlin said. “We’re getting reps with each different group. Everybody. So that’s not just the centers. It’s every single position.”

Frye promised that he'll have a good picture of where the offensive line is headed after the spring. Saturday's game should illustrate that well.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- April is Native Plant Month in Ohio, and residents of the state can celebrate while also preserving native flora in their gardens and yards.

Chief Botanist for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Rick Gardner said that people often have the mindset that plants from Europe and Asia are better than ones from North America. He challenged this claim, and encouraged people to contribute to the continuation of the region's native plants.

"What we have here in North America is starting to go away," Gardner said. "Native plants provide just as much beauty and landscaping as our European and Asian plants."

In 2019, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill into law designating April as Native Plant Month, making Ohio the first state in the country to recognize the importance of native plants for a whole month. On March 20, the U.S. Senate approved a resolution making April 2024 National Native Plant Month.

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Gardner explained how native plants are crucial to the well-being of local habitats.

"Our native wildflowers are best for pollinators because they are the plants that the pollinators have evolved with and know them best, and provide the most nourishment," Gardner said. "So, it's important to have these plants since so much of our landscape is now urban and suburban landscapes."

Regardless of environmental reasons, Gardner said there are perks to native plants a beginning gardener may enjoy.

"It's also a joy to have them," Gardner said. "Because they're low maintenance. And then you get all these pollinators coming to your yard."

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Native plants that Gardner said Ohio residents can plant in their gardens and yards include:

• Red osier dogwood
• Cardinal flower
• Ninebark
• Serviceberry
• Purple coneflower
• Virginia bluebell
• Butterfly weed
• Milkweed
• Poke milkweed
• Swamp milkweed
• Rattlesnake root
• Virginia mountain mint
• Tiger swallowtails
• Wood poppy
• Winterberry holly
• Tulip poplar
• Honeysuckle vine

To learn about Native Plant Month, where to buy native plants and more, visit ohionativeplantmonth.org.