Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 4, 2026
Man Convicted of Strangulation During “Home Pass” Visit
(ZANESVILLE, OH)
On April 27, 2026, Tony E. Saxton appeared in the Muskingum Court of Common Pleas to be sentenced for charges that stem from Saxton strangling a female victim.
At the time of the crime, Saxton, 64, was on a home pass visit from a half-way house where he was currently under transitional control for a 2024 felony conviction for possession of drugs, for which he was sentenced 30 months in prison.
Transitional housing is a short-term, structured living arrangement used to support individuals transitioning from incarceration or treatment into independent community living. In some cases, after an individual has been sentenced by the Court, correctional authorities may authorize placement in a transitional housing program to serve a portion of their sentence in a supervised, community-based setting. During this time, individuals remain under structured oversight and may be granted limited privileges, such as approved home passes, at the discretion of the supervising authority.
Decisions regarding Transitional Control and “home passes” are made by state prison officials, not local officials.
Taking advantage of his home pass, Saxton visited his victim. During the visit Saxton became angry and put a blade to the victim’s neck threatening to cut her jugular. Soon after, Saxton then pushed her against a wall and wrapped both of his hands around her neck, strangling her to the point where she became increasingly dizzy and had trouble breathing.
Saxton fled the residence before law enforcement arrived at the scene. Officers observed the victim in emotional distress and with physical injuries such as red scratch marks and abrasions around the front and both sides of her neck. The markings were noticeably red and swollen.
Saxton was arrested and booked into the Zanesville City Jail. His criminal history includes prior convictions for possession of drugs, OVI, animal cruelty, and domestic violence.
Saxton entered guilty pleas to all five counts he was indicted under; however, the Court found that counts 1-4 on the indictment merged. When counts are merged it means the defendant can only be sentenced on one of the counts. Assistant Prosecutor Warren Edwards elected to proceed on the most serious charge, count 1 F-3 Strangulation, as well as count 5 Aggravated Menacing M-1.
Saxton’s transitional control was revoked in March of 2026 and is expected to complete his 30-month term by September of 2026.
Judge Cottrill imposed the maximum 36-month prison sentence on the Strangulation charge and ordered that time be served consecutively to the current 30-month sentence. That means that once Saxton has served the 30-month sentence, he will begin serving his 36-month sentence.
Assistant Prosecutor Edwards stressed how this case highlights problems with the state prison system’s transitional control program and how prison officials being able to grant release undermines truth in sentencing and endangers the public.
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