Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Domestic Violence, Abduction and Intimidation Case Results in 12 Year Prison Sentence for Zanesville Man
ZANESVILLE, OH -
On January 5, 2026, Michael Hill, 29, appeared in a Muskingum County Court to receive sentencing for several charges stemming from two separate cases.
The charges that Hill previously had pleaded guilty to include Domestic Violence, Abduction and nine (9) counts of Intimidation, all felonies of the third-degree.
Hill has a long history of domestic violence, disorderly conduct and parole violations.
Facts of the Case:
Hill was first arrested in August of 2025 as a result of a domestic violence incident in which Hill’s victim, following a verbal argument, packed her belongings to leave. As she tried to leave the residence Hill blocked her and told her that she wasn’t leaving. The victim then tried to call 911 for help when Hill pushed her. Hill then stood over his victim, preventing her from getting up while at the same time trying to take the phone from her.
Prior to deputies arriving Hill began making suicidal statements.
Once secured in a patrol car, Hill then purposely banged his head on the inside of the car to the point he was taken to the hospital for medical care. Once released from the hospital Hill was transferred to the Muskingum County Jail.
While incarcerated and awaiting court dates, Hill then began to threaten and intimidate his victim from jail. Call recordings reveal the many threats he made to his victim if she continued working with prosecutors on the case. More than once Hill informed his victim that he was going to kill her if he ever got out of prison. He also threatened to harm her family members as well as have her child taken from her for cooperating in the prosecution.
“The defendant in this case has faced increasing penalties throughout his criminal life,” said Prosecutor Ron Welch. “Unfortunately, his previous cases did not legally allow for longer sentences preventing him from being put in prison where he belongs. However, the cases for which Hill was sentenced today means a violent, repeat felon will now be off our streets for more than a decade.”
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