MARIETTA - A Marietta man will be spending nine months in prison for forcefully entering the home of his ex-wife.
Thomas I. Valentine, 30, of 305 Harmar St., was sentenced Tuesday on a fourth-degree felony count of trespass in an occupied structure when a person is present or likely to be present.
Valentine was initially indicted on a second-degree felony charge of burglary, but later pleaded to the lesser charge, said Washington County Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Rings.
According to the indictment, on Aug. 27, Valentine followed his ex-wife, forced his way into her home on Grandview Avenue and threatened her.
"He wanted to try to get back with his wife. She didn't want to talk to him, so he just went into her house," said Rings.
Valentine's daughter, who was present in the home, got him to leave by picking up a broom and repeatedly whacking him over the head with it, said Rings. When police picked him up at his home, Valentine appeared to be in the process of trying to hang himself in his front yard, he said.
Fourth-degree felony offenders can only be given a prison conviction under special circumstances. Valentine was eligible for a prison sentence because he had a prior felony conviction, said Rings.
"He had a drunk driving felony in West Virginia and had just gotten out of prison there when this incident occurred," he said.
