SIDNEY — John P. Liles, 44, of West Carrollton, appeared in Shelby County Common Pleas Court for sentencing Wednesday.
Liles was sentenced to 15 months in prison for his attempt, in August 2015, at intimidating the mother of his son, Andrew Liles, who was facing rape charges.
The Sheriff’s Office originally became involved when Tammy Liles, mother of Andrew Liles, came to the office to report a threat made over the telephone on Aug. 16. John Liles was accused of leaving a voice message on Tammy Liles’s phone threatening her. John Liles reportedly told Tammy Liles to recant her story about their son, Andrew Liles.
After the warrant for John Liles’s arrest was received, the Sheriff’s Office notified other agencies about the warrant. The Vandalia Police Department arrested John Liles at the Flying J truck stop in Vandalia.
Prior to his arrest, John Liles refused to come out of a semitractor trailer at the truck stop. A four-hour standoff with SWAT began. Officers were able to talk John Liles out of the truck and he was taken into custody. He was also charged with obstructing justice in Montgomery County.
In Shelby County, he was originally charged and plead not guilty to intimidation of a witness in a criminal case, a felony of the third-degree. According to court records, in December he entered a guilty plea on the terms the charge be lowered to attempted intimidation of a witness, a felony of the fourth-degree. The state and the defense also agreed on a joint recommendation of community control.
In court on Wednesday Liles apologized for his actions. His attorney added, John has a good job, and is seeking help for anger and alcohol issues.
Shelby County Prosecutor Tim Sell said the facts in the case were clear and this incident was clearly an attempt at interfering with the criminal process.
Judge James Stevenson said he took into account Liles’ significant adult record, including similar charges he faced in 1996.
“Charges like these tear at the fabric of our justice system,” Stevenson said. “Therefore, the court can not accept the joint recommendation for community control.”
After Liles is released from prison he will be subject to a discretionary three years of community control, to be determined by the parole board. He received 13 days credit for time spent in jail after he was arrested in August.
In January, his son, Andrew Liles, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for one count of rape, a felony of the first-degree and one count of sexual battery (under 13), a felony of the second degree, amended from one count of rape, a felony of the first-degree.
