After a three and a half day trial, a Greene County jury returned a guilty verdict today of one count of Rape, a felony of the first degree, against Anthony Freeman. The trial team consisting of Docket Prosecutor Michele Henne, Victim Advocate Becky Walsh, and Det. Jonathan Emery of the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, worked extremely hard in preparing the case. The victim is a Central State University student who agreed to meet fellow CSU student Anthony Freeman for a date on February 20, 2019 at his Province apartment in Bath Township, which is near Fairborn. The victim testified that Freeman proceeded to engage in forcible sexual conduct with her against her will at his apartment. She was ultimately able to get him to take her back to CSU later that night, and she made a police report the next day.
A search warrant was executed on Freeman’s apartment and a DNA sample was obtained. Freeman maintained everything that happened at the apartment was consensual, and he would not plead to any felony charge. Investigator Fred Meadows assisted the trial team in locating some witnesses and interviewing a witness. Det. Emery was the lead detective who assembled the evidence to present at trial. VW advocate Becky Walsh kept in touch with the victim from the very beginning when she met her at Greene Memorial Hospital, and supported her through the long time period the case was pending. Docket Prosecutor Michele Henne dealt successfully with all pre-trial legal issues, and developed a winning strategy to present the case to the jury relying on the victim’s very credible testimony as to the events that occurred. She also presented the testimony of an expert to explain sexual assault victim behaviors which proved helpful to the jury.
This was a very tough case to try, but the victim was determined to go forward despite all the delays in the court process, and had the courage to testify at trial. Congratulations to the trial team for obtaining the first degree felony conviction on the Rape charge. You all put in long hours preparing the victim, other witnesses, and working on the case during the week on weekends. Your dedication and resolve in handling this case to a successful conclusion is appreciated.