A Hillsboro-area man was arrested and charged with domestic violence on Tuesday after a Highland County Sheriff's Office deputy found him hiding behind a curtain in a stairwell. Fernando Trevino Jr., 48, was taken into custody at a State Route 73 residence and transported to the Highland County Justice Center, according to the sheriff's office.
The case began when a deputy was dispatched to a business in Liberty Township at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday following a report of an earlier assault at the State Route 73 residence, according to the Scioto Valley Guardian. After an initial investigation at the business, the deputy went to the residence itself to continue looking into the report.
A Hillsboro Police Department officer assisted the deputy once they arrived at the home, the outlet reported. Inside, the deputy located Trevino concealed behind a curtain in a stairwell. He was taken into custody on the spot.
From Stairwell to the Justice Center
Following his arrest, Trevino was transported to the Highland County Justice Center, where he was charged with domestic violence, the sheriff's office said, per the same account.
Under Ohio law, a domestic violence conviction carries mandatory sentencing provisions. The Ohio Revised Code states that anyone who violates the statute is guilty of domestic violence, with courts required to impose sentencing under specific subsections of the law.
Sheriff's Office Credits Joint Response
The Highland County Sheriff's Office thanked the Hillsboro Police Department for its assistance in the arrest, according to the sheriff's office. The agency pulled together a deputy's dispatch to a local business with a follow-up visit to the reported scene of the assault, resulting in Trevino's arrest the same day.
As with any pending criminal matter, Trevino is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. No additional details about a court date, bail status, or further proceedings have been made public at this time.
