Highland County man accused of standoff with law enforcement sentenced to 10 years in prison

One week after being indicted on 26 counts, an Allensburg man accused of engaging in a standoff with police pleaded guilty to multiple charges and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

On July 11, Christopher Todd Colvin, 58, was indicted by a Highland County grand jury on 26 counts, including: intimidation, a third-degree felony; retaliation, a third-degree felony; 10 counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, a fourth-degree felony; four counts of assault on a peace officer, a fourth-degree felony; and 10 counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, a fifth-degree felony.

The Highland County Press was told that the reason Colvin was charged with lower-level felonies for the standoff was because the weapon used during the incident was identified as a BB gun and not a firearm.

According to court records, Colvin pleaded guilty to multiple counts during a pretrial hearing July 19, including: four counts of assault on a peace officer (fourth-degree felonies); intimidation (third-degree felony); and four counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor (fourth-degree felonies). The remaining 17 charges were dismissed.

Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss sentenced Colvin to a definite determinate term of 24 months on the intimidation charge and 12 months on each fourth-degree felony count, for a total sentence of 120 months (10 years) in prison. Colvin had jail time credit of 71 days.

The indictment alleged that on or about May 10, Colvin “did knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm” to four different peace officers, and that he “retaliated” against all four victims because the officers “discharged [their] duties as a public servant.”

The indictment further alleged that on or about April 15, Colvin “did, with knowledge of the character of the material or performance involved, buy, procure, possess or control obscene material that has a minor as one of its participants.”

As previously reported, Colvin was arrested in May after an hourslong standoff with local law enforcement.

The Highland County Sheriff’s Office reported that on May 10 at approximately 11:41 a.m., the Highland County Sheriff’s Office was executing a search warrant in Dodson Township, Allensburg. The occupant of the home would not answer the door.

According to an affidavit filed by Detective Sergeant Vincent Antinore of the Highland County Sheriff’s Office, the search warrant was signed May 10 in connection with an active investigation into a micro SD card that may involve Colvin. The HCSO began investigating after the card, which allegedly contains hundreds of images of child pornography, was found dropped on the floor at an area business.

At approximately 12:36 p.m., entry was attempted into the home. Officers were confronted by a male subject (Colvin) with a weapon (later identified as a BB gun, as noted above). Colvin allegedly fired a round out of the east side of the house toward deputies, who were in the process of taking cover.

The Highland County Sheriff’s Special Response Team (SRT) was called to the scene, along with assistance requested from the Lynchburg Police Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Emergency Management Agency and local fire departments. The Ohio Department of Transportation and the Highland County Engineer’s Office assisted in closing access to Route 50. The Clermont County Sheriff’s Office was called in for assistance with its SRT team and equipment.

Colvin, on several occasions, allegedly exited the back door and aimed a weapon at deputies, who were under cover by armored vehicles.

Several non-lethal weapons were fired toward the subject. Colvin allegedly aimed his weapon at a deputy, and a shot was fired. Colvin then ran back inside and again barricaded himself.

Entry was made into the home, and Colvin was found hiding in the attic. Several non-lethal rounds were fired again from the armored vehicle into the residence.

After several hours of the negotiating team attempting to get Colvin from the house, entry was made into the house by the Highland County Sheriff’s Special Response Team, and he was taken into custody.