HILLSBORO, Ohio – A jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court has found a Hillsboro man guilty of violating a protection order or consent agreement. Allen W. Shoemaker, 65, was convicted of one fifth-degree felony count along with the finding that he had a prior conviction for the same offense. Following the verdict, Judge Rocky Coss sentenced Shoemaker to two years in prison. The trial began with opening statements from Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins and the defense attorneys Denny Kirk and Danielle Whitt. Collins informed the jury that the victim had obtained a protection order against Shoemaker in June 2023, and he sent a letter to the victim’s home in violation of the order. The victim immediately reported the violation to the Highland County Sheriff’s Office.
During the trial, Kirk argued that the intended recipient of the letter was not the victim, but a person named “Grace.” However, prosecutor Collins pointed out that the envelope was addressed to the victim and that Shoemaker was trying to avoid responsibility by using a false name. She emphasized that regardless of the contents of the letter, the harm was in the violation of the law and the victim’s right to live peacefully.
The state presented three witnesses, including the victim, who testified about receiving the letter from Shoemaker. Highland County Sheriff’s Office jail administrator Keith Brown confirmed that Shoemaker sent the letter while in jail. Shoemaker himself took the stand in his own defense and claimed that he was just trying to contact another individual, but only had the victim’s address. However, the judge dismissed this argument and emphasized that Shoemaker had been engaging in this pattern of conduct for years, even while in prison.
Following the jury’s deliberation, Coss read the guilty verdict and sentenced Shoemaker to two years in prison, taking into account his prior convictions for similar offenses. Shoemaker will serve an additional 12-month sentence due to violating post-release control.
This case highlights the significance of protection orders and the consequences for violating them. The victim sought the order in order to live free from any contact or communication with Shoemaker. The severity of the sentence reflects the court’s determination to uphold the victim’s rights and discourage further violations.