Ohio man stole a swimming pool from a business

MUSKINGUM COUNTY, Ohio ( WTRF ) — A Newark, Ohio, man was sentenced to serve two years in prison for stealing a swimming pool from a Zanesville business, according to Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch.

Charles E. Hess, 48, appeared before Muskingum County Common Pleas Court Judge Kelly Cottrill on March 27 for sentencing.

Officials say he will serve two years in prison for the crimes of felony burglary and theft.

It is reported that on July 20, 2023, Hess and an accomplice visited a Zanesville retail business. Hess asked a store employee for help loading a swimming pool into his shopping cart while the accomplice gathered pool products.

Officials say the pair pretended to wait in line at the customer service desk, then left and exited the store without paying. When store employees approached the two individuals, Hess got into his vehicle and left his accomplice behind.

The total value of items stolen from the business exceeded $600.

Muskingum County Prosecuting Attorney Ron Welch says Hess has demonstrated a long history of criminal behavior.

“Even though this is only the second felony conviction for Charles Hess, his criminal history goes back nearly 30 years,” Prosecutor Welch said. “He has consistently failed to be a law-abiding citizen. Hess has also proven he cannot be rehabilitated using probation, as he was on probation in Licking County for theft when he committed this crime.”

Prosecutor Welch says he hopes Hess is not prematurely released from his prison sentence, as has been the case with other offenders.

“We hope he will serve all of his sentence; however, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections has consistently found ways to release criminals, determining them to be low-risk offenders despite our judges finding their history shows the exact opposite,” Prosecutor Welch said.

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