Ohio man guilty of road-rage assault with baseball bat sentenced

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COLUMBUS , Ohio ( WCMH ) – A man who pleaded guilty to beating another with a baseball bat after a road-rage incident was sentenced recently to over two years in prison.

According to court documents, Sterling Pankratz, 35, was sentenced to 2½ years in prison after pleading guilty to felonious assault, stemming from a road-rage incident that occurred on Nov. 16, 2023.

Officers responded to Sawmill Road and spoke to the victim, who said Pankratz damaged his car and assaulted him after the two were involved in a crash.

An investigation revealed that Pankratz threw an object through the other man’s car, then sped away. The victim followed Pankratz to take a photo of his license plate, and they both stopped again at the intersection of Sawmill and Billingsley Road near the New Market Shopping Center.

Police said Pankratz got out of his car wielding a baseball bat and began to strike the victim’s car. When the victim got out of his vehicle to run away, Pankratz struck him several times. The victim, who suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung, drove to his residence several miles away and called for help.

Pankratz was issued a $150,000 bond in November, and he pleaded not guilty in December. He changed his plea in June.

In addition to prison time, Pankratz will be expected to complete 1-3 years of post-release control. He received 15 days of jail credit.

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