Barnes Convicted in Trial

An area man already in prison on drug charges is found guilty in a separate trial this week in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court. The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office says that 33-year-old Daniel Barnes was convicted on one count of aggravated robbery and one count of felonious assault, both with firearm specifications and having a weapon while under a disability. The court says he was found not guilty of two counts of kidnapping. The case stemmed from the robbery and kidnapping of James Martin of Muskingum County in June of 2013. Judge Mark Fleegle ordered a pre-sentence investigation in the case. A co-defendant – Eric Thornton was convicted on mostly the same charges – except for the weapon disability charge — last year and sentenced to 23 years in prison. Barnes is already servicing a prison term for a drug conviction in August of 2013.