Hillsboro man sentenced to 21 months in prison for theft from elderly

A Hillsboro man was sentenced to 21 months in prison last week after pleading guilty to two lower-level felonies in Highland County Common Pleas Court.

John H. Jennings, 53, was indicted in April on charges of theft from a person in a protected class, a fourth-degree felony; and one count each of theft, forgery and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, all fifth-degree felonies.

The indictment alleged that on various dates in February 2023, Jennings “did knowingly obtain or exert control over” property of elderly victims, including $1,225 in U.S. currency; checks; and a motor vehicle. He is also accused of writing multiple checks while “knowing them to have been forged, and the victim of the offense is an elderly person.”

According to court records, Jennings pleaded guilty June 20 to the theft from a person in a protected class and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle charges, with the theft and forgery charges dismissed.

During a sentencing hearing July 20, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss sentenced Jennings to a definite determinate term of 21 months — 12 months on the first count, nine months on the second count — in prison, with jail time credit of eight days. Jennings was also ordered to pay court costs as well as $940 in restitution to the victim.

At sentencing, Coss noted that Jennings had a record dating back to 2006 of various theft and forgery offenses.

“Quite honestly, I just think you’re a danger to the community,” Coss said. “Whenever you’re not incarcerated, you steal. You’ve shown that consistently for the last 17 years. The only thing I can do to protect the public from you is to keep you incarcerated.”