Logan County Jury Finds Court Lacked Venue on Rape Charge; Convicts Sholty of Gross Sexual Imposition

A Logan County jury today convicted Triston Sholty of South Bend, Indiana, on the charge of gross sexual imposition, felony of the fourth degree, but found that the State of Ohio failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Logan County was the correct county in which to try the State's charge of rape, a felony of the first degree.
 
The jury deliberated for over three hours. Prior to rendering its verdict, the jury sent a note to Logan County Court of Common Pleas Judge Kevin P. Braig indicating that the jury was having difficulty reaching a unanimous verdict. Judge Braig returned the jury to courtroom and instructed the jury further. The jury then reached its verdict.
 
Sholty and the victim were acquainted with one another via their mutual participation in gaming on the "X-box live" platform.
 
On November 30, 2019, Sholty traveled to Logan County, and he and the victim traveled to Springfield in Clark County, Ohio, for dinner. They went to a Walmart store in Springfield after dinner, and the conduct that gave rise to the offenses commenced in Clark County. The State contended venue was proper in Logan County on the rape charge because Sholty's conduct in Clark County was part of the same chain of events as the conduct that occurred in Logan County. But the jury did not see it that way.
 
Judge Braig ordered a pre-sentence investigation and report and scheduled a sentencing hearing on the conviction for January 8, 2026.
 
Logan County Assistant Prosecutor Nathan Yohey represented the State of Ohio and criminal defense attorney Griff Nowicki of Dayton, Ohio, represented Sholty.