Updated: Holsinger gets 25.9 to life in prison for Greenfield murder; apologizes to families

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Jeffrey Ryan Holsinger was sentenced to 25.9 years to life in prison Wednesday morning after pleading guilty to murder and aggravated robbery charges in Highland County Common Pleas Court.

Holsinger, charged with the Fourth of July murder of Steven Mottie Jr. in Greenfield, appeared in court Wednesday for a hearing initially scheduled to review a psyhiatric evaluation judging his competency to stand trial after he pled not guilty by reason of insanity last month.

Holsinger entered a plea of guilty after he was found competent to stand trial during the hearing.

As part of a plea agreement, three firearm specifications, one count of kidnapping and one count of having weapons under disability were dismissed.

Following a joint recommendation between the prosecution and defense, judge Rocky Coss sentenced Holsinger to 15 years to life in prison for the murder charge and seven years for the aggravated robbery charge. In addition, Coss ordered Holsinger to complete 1,422 days (3.9 years) in prison as a penalty for committing a felony while he was on post-release control from a previous prison term.

Coss said Holsinger may face the death penalty in Ross County for possible charges related to the death of Paul Robertson, a 79-year-old Clarksburg man who Holsinger allegedly shot and killed on the Fourth of July, as well as the injury of Jessie Lytle, who he allegedly shot several times. Lytle survived.

No charges have yet been filed in Ross County.

Holsinger became emotional when he publicly apologized for his crimes, and brushed tears from his eyes when he finished speaking.

“I would just like to apologize, not only to the victims, their families, loved ones, but also to my own family, my loved ones, my kids,” he said. “It’s horrible circumstances under which it happened. Under a different light, that’s not the type of person I would be. I am truly sorry for what I did.”

Holsinger was arrested late at night on July 4 when he was captured near Columbus after leading multiple law enforcement agencies on a pursuit through multiple counties. His arrest followed a crime spree in Greenfield and surrounding areas that evening, during which he allegedly kidnapped and assaulted Mottie’s father, Steve Mottie Sr.

The shootings occurred just one day after the funeral of Holsinger’s father, who died in a freak accident June 28 after being struck by a wheel that flew off a homemade trailer near Greenfield.

Highland County Prosecuting Attorney Anneka Collins told The Times-Gazette the Highland County case was prosecuted and closed in 72 days.

“It’s sad that this happened here,” Collins said. “But I’m thankful we have investigators like Detective Randy Sanders. Seventy-two days from start to finish in a case is extremely fast, and it’s the hard work and dedication of detective Sanders and detective Chris Bowen that made something like that happen. I’m so sorry for Steve Mottie Sr.’s loss. I’ve lost a family member like that, and I know it’s difficult. I hope this gives him some closure and he can start healing now.”

Reach David Wright at 937-402-2570, or on Twitter @DavidWrighter.

Jeffrey Ryan Holsinger, right, stands in court Wednesday morning with attorney J.D. Wagoner.
http://www.timesgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2017/09/web1_holsingerplea-3.jpgJeffrey Ryan Holsinger, right, stands in court Wednesday morning with attorney J.D. Wagoner. David Wright | The Times-Gazette
Separate Ross County case could bring death penalty

By David Wright

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