Indian Hill woman found guilty in harassment case

Jacqueline "Crysta" Pleatman was found guilty Tuesday of one count of telecommunications harassment in a criminal case that stems from an Indian Hill real estate deal gone bad. The jury did not come to a verdict on the second count.

The verdict comes after nearly six hours of deliberation over the course of two days.

Pleatman bowed her head before the verdict was read. After the verdict was announced, she could be seen crying.

Clyde Bennett II, one of Pleatman's attorneys, told The Enquirer he was disappointed with the verdict.

"I’m disappointed, but what I cannot do is publicly say anything in a negative way about the jury’s decision," he said. "I respect the jury’s decision. I don’t necessarily agree with it, but I have to respect it."

He said he thought the verdict would be appealed.

The jury considered whether Pleatman was guilty of intentionally trying to abuse, harass or threaten Grant Troja, an Indian Hill homeowner who Pleatman and her husband planned to buy a home from.

The jury looked at two pieces of evidence presented by prosecutors – an email sent Dec. 14, 2013, and a text message sent May 14. That email contained several different phrases, including "you're a real SOB," "you're a despicable specimen of mankind" and "grow up and get some balls."

The guilty verdict concerned the Dec. 14 email. The jury did not reach a verdict concerning the text message.

Prosecutors argued Pleatman was intentionally trying to abuse, harass or threaten Troja with those communications. Ohio law says a person is guilty of telecommunications harassment if that is their purpose.

Pleatman's lawyers said their client was not intentionally trying to abuse, harass or threaten Troja. Instead, they said Troja was "a bully" who was trying to force Pleatman and her husband into a home deal they did not want.

Telecommunications harassment is a first degree misdemeanor, or fifth degree felony on each subsequent offense. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 180 days in jail.

Pleatman still faces two other criminal charges of obstructing official business and criminal damaging. A jury trial is expected in a separate civil real estate lawsuit in January.

Bennett said it was too soon to tell if Pleatman will take a plea deal in the other cases, given Tuesday's verdict.

The parties will meet Nov. 17 for a sentencing.

“We have a couple of matters that we have to become acquainted with and then we have to ask Judge Rucker to be fair," Bennett said. "I don’t think that will be a problem. He’s a very learned, matured, seasoned judge and I’m just going to ask him to be fair in regards to sentencing. That’s next.”