Dresden man acquitted on rape charges after his wife was found guilty on lesser charges
ZANESVILLE – A Dresden man has been acquitted on seven sexual abuse charges originating from a three-person sexual relationship in March 2024.
The jury found Wesley James Stotts, 40, not guilty on three counts of rape, first-degree felonies; three counts of sexual battery, third-degree felonies; and gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony; according to court documents. The trial ended on May 21.
Stotts was indicted on Jan. 8, along with his wife, Ashton Whitney Stotts, 37, who was also accused of the same seven crimes.
Ashton was found guilty on three counts of sexual battery after a trial May 29.
The case's one female victim alleged that she was drunkenly raped by both during the encounter, noted Samuel H. Shamansky, a Columbus-based attorney representing Stotts. He was also counseled by Donald L. Regensburger.
"Wesley was extremely grateful for the manner for which Judge Cottrill ensured a fair trial," Shamansky noted. He also applauded the jury for its ability to follow instructions and produce a fair environment.
The prosecutor's office had no comment.
Wesley and Ashton were both booked and briefly detained in the Muskingum County Jail Feb. 10 on $100,000 bonds.
More: Zanesville police waiting for autopsy results of skeletal remains found on Adams Street
Shawn Digity is a reporter for the Zanesville Times Recorder. He can be emailed at sdigity@gannett.com or found on X at @ShawnDigityZTR.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Dresden man not guilty of rape; wife found guilty on lesser charges
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