Man sent to prison for breaking officer's nose

NEWARK – A Newark man was sent to prison Tuesday after admitting to breaking a police officer's nose earlier this year.

Jesse T. Moffitt, 42, last known address 416 Thomas Ave., Newark, received the 14-month sentence from Judge David Branstool after entering guilty pleas to counts of felonious assault, a first-degree felony; and assault on a peace officer, a fourth-degree felony.

On March 19, police were called to Fleek Avenue for a disturbance and Newark police officer Ray Hopkins found Moffitt in the street, yelling, Assistant Licking County Prosecutor Bryan Moore said.

Moffitt began to beat on Hopkins' cruiser and said he needed help, at which point Moffitt struck Hopkins in the nose, breaking it in two places, Moore said.

Moffitt eventually had to be tased to be subdued and taken into custody.

As part of a plea deal, a charge of obstructing official business was dismissed and prosecutors agreed to sentence Moffitt on the fourth-degree felony. The deal reduced the maximum sentence Moffitt faced from 11 years to 18 months and was agreed to by Hopkins, Moore said.

Moore recommended a 16-month sentence for Moffitt, citing his "extensive" criminal history, which includes Licking County convictions for possession of crack cocaine, tampering with evidence and assault on an employee of a correction facility, and a federal conviction in 2007 for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

Moffitt's attorney, Kort Gatterdam, said Moffitt faces up to two years in federal prison for a supervised release violation. Moffitt was released in April 2014.

Gatterdam requested a sentence in the six to nine-month range and said Moffitt was "horrified by his actions."

"He didn't set out that day to do harm," Gatterdam said. "He knows he is fortunate the officer agreed to this."

Gatterdam also said Branstool should consider how Moffitt has behaved while in jail. Moffitt reportedly assisted a deputy in the Licking County Justice Center in saving an inmate who was attempting to commit suicide.

Moffitt apologized to Hopkins and said he respects the law.

"(Hopkins) knows I wasn't in my right state of mind," Moffitt said.

Branstool told Moffitt he should have developed the insight he showed at his Tuesday hearing years ago.

"Your record is horrible," he told Moffitt before handing down the sentence.