A Dayton man was sentenced for 17 months on an aggravated assault charge Tuesday.
Damarcus Buress, 24, appeared in the courtroom of Wood County Judge Robert Pollex.
Buress pleaded guilty to the single amended charge of aggravated assault, a fourth-degree felony, in
December. He had previously been indicted on one count of rape.
The Oct. 4 incident in question involved a then-17-year-old female, who was a student at Bowling Green
State University at the time.
"There was a reason this case was negotiated the way it was," said Buress’ attorney, William
Stephenson. "It was evidentiary-based."
Stephenson noted that Buress holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice, which he said is unusual of
defendants in felony cases.
Aaron Lindsey, the prosecuting attorney in the case, indicated the plea agreement was reached with the
consent of the victim. A video showing Buress and the victim prior to the incident was reportedly a
mitigating factor in the amendment of the charge.
The victim’s mother rose to address the court prior to sentencing. The victim herself did not attend the
proceeding.
She noted that her daughter had "bruises all over her, couldn’t hardly walk" after the
incident, and that she subsequently suffered nightmares, for which she had to be treated with
medication.
"She’s trying to move on with her life, but every day is a struggle."
She said Buress had presented himself as a man of 19 or 20 when he began seeing the victim.
Buress, who has children of his own, also addressed the judge, stating that the victim herself said she
was 19 years old when they began their relationship, and countered assertions from the victim’s mother
about threats he had made, and about bruising on the victim.
"I’m not a bad person," he said, saying he had a difficult family life and suffered abuse.
"I’m sorry for what I did," Buress said in closing.
Pollex noted the defendant "has received a tremendous break" with the reduced sentence.
He was sentenced to 17 months in prison, and given credit for time served.