A Muskingum County woman who was severely beaten and strangled during a domestic violence incident in front of her 13-year-old son has seen the conviction of her attacker upheld by an Ohio court. Sterling Mullins, who pleaded guilty to three felony charges and two misdemeanor charges, had filed an appeal arguing that his prison sentence was "contrary to law" because the trial judge imposed an improper sentence.
According to reports, on July 15, 2025, a neighbor called police after finding the victim covered in blood at her residence. The attack left the woman with catastrophic head and facial lacerations, broken bones, and she had to undergo facial reconstructive surgery and physical therapy to relearn how to walk and talk.
The Fifth District Court of Appeals has decided that the Muskingum County Common Pleas Court was correct in determining Mullins' sentence. As a result, he will continue to serve the remainder of his 25-year prison sentence at Belmont Correctional Institute, where he is currently being held. His expected release date is July 9, 2050.
The victim and her child were commended for their bravery in standing up against the attacker. Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch stated that "the 25-year sentence reflects the seriousness of the harm done and ensures that Sterling Mullins will be unable to harm another woman for a long, long time."
Mullins is also required to register as a violent offender with the sheriff's office annually for ten years upon his release.