ZANESVILLE, Ohio (AVC News) — A Muskingum County man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a domestic violence attack in which a woman was strangled and threatened while holding their 11-month-old child.
Jason Giffin pleaded guilty to domestic violence, kidnapping, endangering children, disrupting public services and abduction. Muskingum County Common Pleas Court Judge Gerald Anderson sentenced Giffin to 10 years in prison and ordered him to register as a violent offender.
The case began July 1, 2026, when Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic dispute.
According to the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office, deputies encountered a crying woman who quietly asked them not to wake Giffin. Investigators determined that Giffin had repeatedly assaulted the woman throughout the evening and into the following morning.
During the incident, Giffin allegedly grabbed the woman’s hair and pulled her to the ground, then later grabbed her by the hair and slapped her before ordering her to pack herself and their child into a vehicle.
Giffin took the woman’s phone, broke it and threw it into the woods, preventing her from calling police. He then forced her to drive to a remote location, where he threatened to drown her and their child.
The prosecutor’s office said Giffin assaulted the woman for approximately an hour inside the vehicle before returning home.
The violence continued after they returned to the residence. Giffin kicked and punched the woman in the back, grabbed her by the hair, dragged her through the home and strangled her while she was holding the child. He also repeatedly threatened to harm the woman and child if she attempted to leave.
The woman was eventually able to call for help after Giffin fell asleep.
Deputies observed red marks on both sides of the woman’s neck, claw marks on her body and multiple swollen areas on her scalp, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Giffin had a criminal history that included prior charges for burglary, drug possession, resisting arrest and probation violations. He was on probation in three Morgan County cases when the offenses occurred.
He had also been arrested in Morgan County in February 2026 on charges of domestic violence and strangulation. That case was dismissed.
At sentencing, several of Giffin’s family members asked the court for leniency. The victim also submitted a letter supporting Giffin and requested a two-year sentence.
Assistant Prosecutor John Litle argued that the victim’s request demonstrated some of the challenges associated with domestic violence cases. The state maintained that its responsibility was to protect the victim and child from further violence.
The prosecutor’s office identified strangulation, threats of murder-suicide, kidnapping and removing the victim from her home, as well as violence committed in the presence of a young child, as indicators of potentially lethal domestic violence.
Judge Anderson ultimately sentenced Giffin to 10 years in prison.
“Domestic violence can become a cycle,” Litle said. “When children see their parents being abused, or abusing, they learn that violent behavior is normal, and in the future, they may believe that what they saw is how a man should treat a woman.”
Detective Sgt. Brady Hittle investigated the case. Assistant Prosecutor Michael Hughes prosecuted the case, with Litle arguing sentencing for the state.
Victims of domestic violence can contact law enforcement for assistance. Transitions can also be reached at 740-454-3213 for support and resources.
Last Updated on October 8, 2026 by AVC News
