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Man gets five years for Marietta carjacking

CHAD PLAUCHE-ADKINS The Marietta Times Jeffery Dugan waits to receive his sentence Thursday in Washington County Common Pleas Court.

A Parkersburg man was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday for a carjacking in Marietta last fall.

Jeffery Dugan, 35, of 2500 Lincoln Ave., began his day on Sept. 12 at Marietta Memorial Hospital receiving treatment for wounds received in a non-related incident. According to prosecutors, after leaving the hospital, Dugan walked to the corner of Fourth and Warren streets where he saw Tyra Joy getting her wallet out of her grandmother’s car. Dugan wrestled the keys from Joy and got into the car and prepared to leave. Joy’s stepfather heard the commotion outside and confronted Dugan, which resulted in a struggle for the vehicle’s keys between the two men. During the altercation Dugan reached into the pocket of his hoodie and told Joy’s stepfather that he would kill him. At that point, the two victims allowed Dugan to leave the scene in the vehicle. Both victims received minor lacerations in the assault.

The vehicle was found abandoned near Parkersburg High School the next day and Dugan later turned himself into authorities. He was charged with second-degree felony robbery.

In a statement from Joy that was read by the prosecution, she said the incident destroyed her ability to be comfortable in public and that she is constantly looking over her shoulder.

“I’ll never be able to live my life like I did before that day,” she said in the statement.

During his statement, Dugan acknowledged his wrongdoing and said he was sorry for the harm he caused the family.

“I do have to be held accountable for my actions,” he said.

“I did turn myself in the day after it happened,” he added.

Before his sentence was handed down, Washington County Common Pleas Judge Mark Kerenyi took into account Dugan’s extensive criminal history. Since 2003, Dugan has been convicted of battery, eluding, two DUIs, felony breaking and entering, obstructing an officer, two shoplifting charges and driving on a suspended license.

Dugan was also convicted of assault after getting into a fight on Jan. 19 with another inmate while waiting in the Washington County Jail for sentencing. Kerenyi said the incident report stated that Dugan had pulled the other inmate to the ground by his hair and then repeatedly kicked him in the head.

Kerenyi sentenced Dugan to five years in prison with 159 days credit for his time already served. He was also ordered to pay $275 restitution to Joy’s grandmother for damage caused to the vehicle when he stole it. Upon release, Kerenyi ordered Dugan to three years community control as well.

He had faced a maximum of eight years in prison.

At a glance

•What: Jeffery Dugan sentencing.

•Crime: Sept. 12 carjacking in Marietta resulting in second-degree felony robbery conviction.

•Sentence: Five years in prison, three years community control upon release and $275 in restitution.

Source: Washington County Common Pleas Court.

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