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Saturday, May 31, 2025

Married Couple Elect for Separate Jury Trials on Sexual Assault Charges, Wife Found Guilty of Sexual Battery

On May 20, 2025, Wesley Stotts proceeded to trial for charges that stem from allegations of rape, sexual battery and gross sexual imposition.

An adult female reported that Wesley Stotts along with his wife, Ashton Stotts, had both participated in sexually assaulting her after a night of drinking. Charges brought against both Ashton and Wesley involved three counts of rape, three counts of sexual battery, and one count of gross sexual imposition, all occurring out of the same incident.

After a two-day jury trial, the jury found Wesley Stotts not guilty.

On May 27, 2025, Ashton Stotts proceeded to trial on three charges of sexual battery; each a felony of the third-degree.

For these charges, Ashton Stotts is facing a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and registration as a Tier III sexual offender.

Case Details:

March 7, 2024, Zanesville detectives received a call from a victim reporting that she had been sexually assaulted by known persons, Wesley and Ashton Stotts. Two days prior, the victim arrived at Genesis Hospital and underwent a sexual assault examination by a specially trained nurse. A SANE kit, also known as a rape kit, was utilized to collect potential evidence such as clothing, hair, saliva and bodily fluids which can later be tested.

The victim reported that on March 4, 2024, she accepted an invitation to the Stott’s home. The victim then went to the Stott’s home alone around 11pm.

Shortly after arriving to the Stott’s home, the victim consumed alcoholic beverages along with the Stotts, including whiskey and reported blacking out soon after.

According to reports the victim became aware that she was being sexually assaulted while in the Stott’s bed. The victim also recalled that she heard Ashton tell Wesley to stop because they were going to get in trouble because she, the victim, was going to tell on them.

The victim tried reaching out to others to be picked up from the residence since she was in no condition to drive. Finally, a relative came to get her at 3:17am.

Both Wesley and Ashton Stotts made no statements to law enforcement.

Wesley Stotts Y-STR DNA was located in the cervical samples obtained at the hospital. Additional swabs from the victim’s sanitary pad and other items yielded Wesley Stotts Y-STR DNA.

Ashton Stotts later sent several messages to another related party in the case pleading not to “call the cops” and further apologizing “for all of this”.

In the duration of both Wesley’s and Ashton’s trials, the two parties claimed that the sexual encounter they had with the victim was consensual.

A sexual battery charge, which Ashton was found guilty of on three counts, was brought upon both Wesley and Ashton as the victim was found to be substantially impaired and due to being substantially impaired, was unable to provide consent at the time of the incident.

Ron Welch, Muskingum County Prosecutor, highlighted the difficult nature of the case, "Our office continues to prosecute sexual assault cases regardless of how difficult the case may be. We work to make sure victims obtain as much justice as possible. This case was not easy but successfully prosecuted because of a brave victim, a thorough investigation, a good prosecutor, and a conscientious jury,"

Sentencing for Ashton Stotts will be held at a later date.

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