Zachary Christian has been found guilty of domestic battery, but not the Level 6 felony charge of criminal confinement, according to the Starke County Prosecutor’s Office. Christian was accused of hitting a woman, refusing to let her move from a couch, and trying to take her phone when she tried to call police, in an incident back in February.
But during a jury trial in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday, the complaining witness denied anything criminal had happened, according to a Prosecutor’s Office press release. Meanwhile, Officer Dave Vinson with the Starke County Sheriff’s Department reportedly testified that he walked in on the domestic battery taking place. The 911 call was also admitted as part of the trial.
The Prosecutor’s Office says the jury took less than an hour to return a guilty verdict for the Class A misdemeanor of domestic battery. However, Christian was found not guilty of the Class A misdemeanor charge of interference with the reporting of a crime and the felony charge of confinement.
Christian was sentenced to eight months in the Starke County Justice Center. But the press release noted that he’s been in custody since February and therefore has time served.
He’ll now be sent to Marion County, where he’s wanted for battery by means of a deadly weapon and child molesting.
