Criminal Defense Attorney Brad Koffel has secured the release of former
Chillicothe High School Principal Jeff Fisher, who had been sentenced
to prison in 2019 on two counts of sexual battery.
Mr. Fisher had initially entered an Alford Plea, which allows defendants
to assert innocence while admitting prosecutors have evidence for conviction,
in exchange for prosecutors’ recommendation that he be sentenced
to community control and for dismissal of five additional sexual battery
charges. However, the presiding Judge went against prosecutor’s
recommendations and sentenced Fisher to a 2-year prison term at the Lorain
Correctional Institution in Northeast Ohio.
Read the
Chillicothe Gazette’s feature article on Attorney Koffel’s successful motion.
Motion for Release Granted
Fisher’s release was secured through a motion filed by Attorney Koffel
in the Ross County Clerk of Courts office. During a hearing on Thursday,
February 20, 2020, Attorney Koffel argued Fisher’s incarceration
would not serve any useful purpose in his rehabilitation, and pointed
to his low risk of reoffending. As the Chillicothe Gazette reports, Koffel noted:
“He has since recanted his denial, he is prepared to admit his wrongdoings,
and that is considerable in and of itself. He has served his time his
time without incident, like what you would expect of a professional with
no criminal history, and he has applied for as many programs as possible,
but has found it very difficult, through no fault of his own, to get into
specialized programs for sex offenders.”
Attorney Koffel also spoke before the Court on Fisher’s character, stating:
“In my 26 years of practice, I’ve never invited a client to my
home until I met Jeff. We walked many miles talking about his life, his
career, his family, I know this man and his heart. There’s nothing
more important to him than going home to his family and his kids.”
Ultimately, the presiding Judge granted the motion for judicial release,
siding with Attorney Koffel that Fisher was not able to obtain therapy
and rehabilitation services, and that supervision outside of prison would
allow him to do so. Per the order, Fisher will complete a sex offender
program for 1 to 2 years, and will be subject to 5 years of supervision.
Brad Koffel is Managing Partner at Koffel | Brininger | Nesbitt (KBN).
A highly experienced and respected defense attorney, Koffel has extensive
experience representing clients facing life-altering allegations, including
sex crime charges such as
sexual battery, and has been trusted by a number of professionals, high-profile individuals,
and people across Ohio in high-stakes cases.
Call or text 614-884-1100 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
