Hillsboro man sentenced to 4 years on forgery, receiving stolen property charges

A Hillsboro man who was indicted on 14 counts of forgery has been sentenced to serve more than four years in prison.

Charles Edison appeared for a sentencing hearing Wednesday in Highland County Common Pleas Court, before Judge Rocky Coss.

Edison had been indicted on the the 14 fifth-degree felony counts of forgery in January. He pleaded guilty in February to six counts of forgery, and the remaining six counts were dismissed. He also entered a guilty plea on a charge of receiving stolen property, a felony of the fifth degree, in a separate case.

He had been released on his own recognizance bond, but a capias for Edison's arrest was issued in April after he failed to appear for sentencing.

Defense attorney Lee Koogler said that his client had no previous felony convictions.

"He understood the severity of the charges, and said he was scared of the consequences," Koogler said.

Edison, who declined to address the court, asked Koogler to tell Coss that his actions were "fueled by addiction."

During sentencing, Coss noted that Edison had a previous conviction for domestic violence.

"The court finds that although there is a presumption of community control (prison time is necessary)," Coss said.

Additionally Coss found that consecutive sentences were necessary to adequately protect the public.

Edison was sentenced to seven months on each of the forgery counts, to be served consecutively, for a total of 42 months. He was sentenced to seven months on the receiving stolen property charge, to be served consecutively to the forgery case, for a total of 49 months in prison.

Edison, who appeared in the custody of the Highland County Sheriff's Office, was given 53 days of jail time credit.