Zanesville man sentenced to 8 years in prison for allegedly assaulting sleeping woman

Dae Shawn K. Horton, 28, appeared before Judge Kelly Cottrill in the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas this month to receive sentencing for charges that stem from Horton allegedly entering a woman’s home while she was sleeping and then attacking her. 

Horton’s charges included aggravated burglary and felonious assault, felonies of the first and second degree. 

Horton’s criminal history includes previous convictions for domestic violence as well as violating a protection order. Horton most recently served a three-year prison sentence as a result of attacking another woman in 2022.

At the sentencing hearing, the state argued for a sentence of 10 years plus any additional time that remained from the 2022 conviction. 

Judge Cottrill sentenced Horton to a minimum of eight years in prison. The court also ordered a mandatory two years of post-release control after Horton completes his prison sentence. 

“Cowards who beat women need to be held accountable and that is happening in this case,” said County Prosecutor Ron Welch. “Abusers need to understand that my office will do everything the law allows to protect victims and society from this type of violence."

It is alleged that on March 8 at approximately 5 a.m., Horton broke into a woman’s home and entered her bedroom. After entering her bedroom, the defendant allegedly attacked his sleeping victim. 

After allegedly ripping the victim from her bed, Horton continued his attack by hitting the victim in the face with a cell phone. Law enforcement observed serious injuries on the victim’s face and neck alongside a horrifically swollen, black and blue right eye. The white of the victim’s eye was filled with blood from being hit with the phone.