Middletown man sentenced for Franklin standoff

A Middletown man will serve an additional 37 days in jail as a result of entering guilty pleas in connection to a standoff with Warren County Sheriff’s deputies last summer.

Ebb Duhamel, 31, was scheduled for a bench trial in Franklin Municipal Court on Tuesday, but opted to enter guilty pleas to charges of inducing panic and violating a protection order.

The court dropped charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, domestic violence and violating a protection order in exchange for the plea agreement.

Duhamel was involved in a standoff July 4 at a Franklin Twp. residence but eluded a Warren County Tactical Response team during the community fireworks display. He was found on July 5 at a Middletown residence where he was in another standoff with Middletown police.

Judge Ronald Ruppert noted Duhamel’s lengthy criminal record and history and said that would be a factor in his sentencing.

Attorney Alex Jones said Duhamel decided earlier in the day to plead guilty and has been very polite and apologetic to him and that he was willing to take responsibility for his actions.

“I’m sorry for wasting the court’s time,” Duhamel said.

Ruppert sentenced Duhamel to a 180-day jail term with credit for 143 days already served and fined him $500 and costs for the inducing panic charge. Ruppert said the remaining 37 days of the jail term would be served consecutively to his Middletown jail sentence.

In addition, Ruppert sentenced Duhamel to 30 days in jail and a $250 fine and costs for the protection order violation but credited the jail time to time served.

Duhamel appeared in Middletown Municipal Court on July 6 where he entered guilty pleas to three charges. He was given a 180-day jail term and two 90-day jail terms to be served consecutively.

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