Clark County resident, Xenia teacher sentenced in Logan County

A Clark County resident and Xenia teacher who pleaded guilty to a charge in Logan County was sentenced Monday.

Brandon Murray pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted abduction in Logan County Common Pleas Court, according to online records. He was sentenced to 120 days in the county jail, five years of community control and $2,500 in fines plus court costs.

Murray is accused of sexually assaulting a 25-year-old woman — an acquaintance of Murray and his wife — after a night of drinking in June 2017 at Froggy’s swim-up bar at Indian Lake.

The victim in the case said Monday afternoon at the sentencing that the incident has impacted her severely.

“He has robbed me blind of my safety,” the victim said. “Draining every ounce of my time and energy. He has made it impossible for me to feel welcomed in my own hometown. He has stolen my trust for everyone I cared about.”

Murray attorney, Adrian King, said the crime took place during an adult party that got out of hand.

In March, a trial against Murray ended in mistrial after a jury could not reach a verdict.

Murray’s accuser was part of a group that traveled to Logan County and had all been drinking at Froggy’s, 11065 County Road 293 in Lakeview. At the end of the night, the woman was “extremely intoxicated” and was sitting in a vehicle with Murray and his wife waiting for the rest of the group and the designated driver, police said.

Murray’s wife passed out, and police say the alleged crime occurred during a 10-minute period of time before the group’s return to the vehicle.

The woman reported the incident to authorities a little more than a month later. Murray disputed the allegations and told investigators his interaction with the woman was consensual, according to court documents.

The Springfield News-Sun previously reported Murray is a teacher at the Miami Valley Juvenile Rehabilitation Center in Xenia, employed by Xenia Community Schools. Murray was placed on an indefinite leave of absence last year, Superintendent Gabriel Lofton said at the time.

Murray’s teaching status was unknown Monday.

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