A Delaware man pleaded guilty to one count of felonious assault Thursday just before his jury trial was scheduled to begin.
Roger Allen Madison, 48, of 33 Greenhedge Circle, Delaware, was scheduled to stand trial Thursday morning to face one count of felonious assault, a second-degree felony; two counts of kidnapping, first-degree felonies; domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor; and aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Madison appeared in Delaware County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday to change his plea and avoid a trial. His attorney, Todd Workman, detailed the agreement and said Madison would plead guilty to the felonious assault charge and Workman and prosecutors would jointly recommend that Madison be sentenced to two years in prison. However, Madison told Judge David Gormley that it was the first time he had heard of the plea agreement and said he didn’t want to take it.
Assistant County Prosecutor Andrew Bigler said he had listened to jail calls between Madison and other individuals and told Gormley that Madison was aware of the plea agreement.
Gormley said Madison would then stand trial on Thursday and Madison was returned to the Delaware County Jail.
Before Madison’s trial could begin on Thursday, Madison accepted the plea agreement and pleaded guilty to the felonious assault charge.
Madison said that on Feb. 5 he got into an argument with a woman that was living with him and said that during the argument he slapped her and yanked her shirt off. Prosecutors had previously said that Madison had strangled the woman but Madison said the marks on her neck came from when he pulled her shirt off.
Madison said he had been “over-indicted” but was taking Workman’s advice and pleading guilty to avoid the trial. Madison said he didn’t cause the woman and serious harm and said she had lied when she said he choked her.
Bigler said the woman had “significant” bruising around her neck and had passed out from being choked by Madison.
Gormley accepted Madison’s plea to the felonious assault charge and dismissed the remaining charges. Gormley ordered a pre-sentence investigation and scheduled Madison’s sentencing for Aug. 9 at 8:30 a.m.
Madison was returned to the Delaware County Jail Thursday afternoon.
