CADIZ — A trial almost occurred in Harrison County Common Pleas Court last week, but like many others before him Andrew Paul Hill pleaded guilty to seven crminial charges.

Hill, 33, of Uhrichsville, represented by lawyer Anthony Koukoutas, was scheduled for trial Wednesday and Thursday but late Tuesday morning it was announced that a plea agreement had been reached. Instead of a trial Wednesday, Hill heard his fate as Judge T. Shawn Hervey, upon the recommendation of Harrison County Prosecutor Lauren Knight, handed down a four- to six-year prison sentence.

The charges include two counts of first-degree felony aggravated burglary charges, third-degree felony abduction, two second-degree misdemeanor domestic violence charges, misdemeanor violation of a protection order and resisting arrest.

Hill had been facing eight years in prison if convicted on the burglary charges alone. All sentencing was concurrent and as part of the agreement, Hill was given the right to file for judicial release after serving 24 months of his sentence. But Hervey reminded him that if his prison time was not clean, he could serve the full six years.

Knight said later that she initially refused Koukoutas’s offer of four years but changed her position after conferring with the victims. The mother did not want her 9-year-old daughter testifying at trial after all she had been through.

Knight told the court a victim’s impact statement had been submitted but would not be read openly to the court.

Knight proceeded to explain in detail what took place at 3 a.m. Jan. 9, 2021, when Hill approached the residence of a woman with whom he had once had a relationship. When she refused to let him in, he forced his way in, Knight said. After the two females retreated into a bedroom, Knight said he kicked in that door, “which hit the child in the face.”

The abduction charge was the result of Hill running down the two women after they made a run for the neighbor’s house. The neighbor eventually was alerted to the situation and called police. That is when Hill finally left the area.

According to Knight, Hill became physically violent with both victims when he attempted to pull them away from the neighbor’s house.

When authorities finally located Hill at his home, he reportedly resisted arrest, which added to his charges. If Hill does receive early release, he would then enter the program at Eastern Ohio Correction Center, which could last up to six months before he is actually freed.

Koukoutas spoke on his client’s behalf, saying Hill was sorry for what he had done while pointing to a drug problem he has. Hill also spoke, making a brief apology.

“I’m very sorry for my actions that took place and if I could take it back I would,” he told the court.