"I am sorry if I did anything to jeopardize solving this case. I deeply regret my conduct in not timely presenting possible incriminating evidence ..." – Gina Battaglia
Gina Battaglia, 32, was sentenced to two years in prison Friday afternoon after pleading guilty in January to two third-degree felonies for her role in the murder of Randy Scheffield in 2011.
Before being sentenced, Battaglia, along with her attorney, David Grant, and several friends and family — including Ohio Supreme Court Justice William O’Neill — asked Geauga County Common Pleas Judge David Fuhry to have mercy on Battaglia, who is raising a special needs child.
“Your honor, I would like to start by apologizing to the Scheffields and everyone that has been affected by this tragedy. Losing Randy was the most tragic event that I’ve ever experienced in my life. Randy was the grandfather of my son and a father and mentor to myself and a man that I loved,” a somber Battaglia said. “I am sorry if I did anything to jeopardize solving this case. I deeply regret my conduct in not timely presenting possible incriminating evidence to the Geauga County sheriff’s department. I regret any actions I may have taken which may have impeded or hindered the sheriff’s department’s investigation into Randy Scheffield’s death.
“I was raised in a law-abiding, law-enforcement family and I am shamed and embarrassed that my actions may have impeded this investigation. Your honor, I would like to prove to you and the community that I am not the person that has been portrayed and I ask of the court to please allow me the opportunity to stay at home and raise my child the way that he deserves and is accustomed to.”
Grant argued that Battaglia’s actions were done on her own and not in concert with anyone else, including Randy’s wife, Doretta Scheffield, who was convicted last September of murdering Randy on Dec. 27, 2011. Doretta was sentenced to 27 and a half years to life in prison.
Charges, including conspiracy to committ aggravated murder, were dismissed against David “Tig” Rowles, Doretta’s son and Battaglia’s boyfriend and father of their child.
Battaglia had been scheduled to go trial Jan. 12 on eight charges, including conspiracy to commit aggravated murder. Instead, she pleaded guilty Jan. 7 to the two felonies and the rest of the charges were dropped as part of her plea deal.
Grant said Friday that while Doretta may have used Battaglia as an alibi, Battaglia wasn’t aware of that. He also mentioned she was very compliant to law enforcement throughout the entire investigation, participating in four interviews and bringing a one-page, incriminating letter from Doretta to the attention of law enforcement.
Grant conceded Battaglia pleaded no contest to a felony drug conviction last year and is awaiting sentencing by common pleas court Judge Forrest Burt. He said, however, she has been proactive in getting treatment and help with her psychological and substance-abuse issues.
“I think Devon perhaps provides the greatest motivation for Gina to live a law-abiding life-style. She is a cosmologist, but her full-time job is, in fact, Devon. She’s totally immersed in virtually every aspect of his health, his education and his therapy. It’s the type of support, your honor, that only she can provide,” he told Fuhry. “Incarcerating this young lady will not make this community any safer. She’s already been punished to some extent for the last four plus years by living under a cloud of uncertainty, although she did not particpate in the staging, the planning and execution of Randy Scheffield’s murder, she has been ostracized by many in the community.
“Gina is healthy young lady, your honor, and obviously she will survive whatever this court chooses to do. Unfortunately, Devon is not so healthy and I would submit, your honor, if you incarcerate her, his loss of her care and guidance and the type of care that only she can provide will essentially create another victim in this tragic story,” he concluded.
Other friends and family, including Battaglia’s father, former Newbury Township Police Chief Sonny Battaglia, echoed Grant’s sentiments, focusing on the need for Battaglia to raise her child.
“Your honor, my hopes and prayers for today, at this sentencing, is that this court will recognize all the good my daughter has done with no criminal history and allow her the opportunity to continue her life taking care of the people she loves and ensuring the best possible upbringing for her son, Devon,” Sonny said. “I ask that at the end of this proceeding, you allow us as a family to leave the courthouse together and attempt to restore our once calm lives and move forward with peace.”
John Chambers, Randy’s brother-in-law, spoke on behalf of the Scheffield family. He mentioned the incredible amount of stress that Randy’s parents are still under.
“Randy was nothing to your son, ma’am. He was Tig’s step-father. He was nothing to you. After listening to Mr. Grant, my head is spinning,” he said, adding he almost wished there would have been a trial to present all the evidence, but the family took the recommendation of the prosecutor and went along with this plea.
Chambers said Randy was a hard worker, who spent his life developing and building his landscaping business.
“He worked hard and these folks wanted to take it away from him,” he said. “Actions speak louder than words. And Ms. Battaglia had years to speak up and be cooperative with the prosecutor and she didn’t do it until the last very moment.”
He added, “Just punishment will come in the afterlife … but being involved in a 12-step program, one of the steps is clearing away the wreckage of your past so you can live a clean and sober life and accepting the consequences of your actions.”
Geauga County Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Driscoll told Fuhry Battaglia was attempting to minimize her behavior.
“Yes she gave four statements, but they were four incredibly, incredibly inconsistent statements. We’ve heard a lot about what a good mother she is and what a great law-abiding life she’s led, but I want to submit to this honorable court, it was not a law-abiding life where she was dedicated to her child,” she said. “She was not sober until she was arrested last year. She was using drugs the entire time. We know she was using cocaine on Christmas, we know she was using drugs the night of Randy’s murder. We know she was using drugs on the day of her arrest. So, for people to come in and say that she is so dedicated, she’s so competent. Devon was a victim. Devon was a victim of her drug use from the time she was pregnant through the time of her arrest. She was not law-abiding.”
Driscoll went on to say Randy was a son, a brother and a person who deserved to still be alive.
“The Scheffields would have liked to continue their life with their son, Randy,” she said. “Ms. Battaglia has had four years of living free after the murder of Randy Scheffield, four years of using drugs, four years of partying, four years … of tattoos and going to the lake and riding motorcycles. Those were the things that Randy Scheffield loved to do. Four years of not telling the truth, four years of hiding evidence. She has had her time. She has had her time.”
Driscoll concluded it was important to sentence Battaglia to prison to not only punish her for her actions, but to also bring peace to the community and send a message that crimes of this type will not be tolerated.
While Fuhry acknowledged Battaglia had not been convicted of any type of murder or complicity to commit any type of murder, he said the offenses she pleaded guilty to were serious.
He emphasized the “version” of obstructing justice, of which Battaglia was convicted, was “ramped up” to a third-degree felony because the crime she aided in obstructing was a “serious one.”
“It’s aggravated murder,” he said. “The court finds that a prison sentence is called for. One is warranted. Not a maximum sentence, it’s not the worst form of the offense, but a prison sentence nonetheless.”
Fuhry then sentenced Battaglia to 24 months in prison on each count, to be served at the same time. He also ordered Battaglia to pay for the cost of the prosecution and imposed three years of post-release control.
Randy, who owned Scheffield Lawns, a Newbury Township landscaping business, was found unconscious in his bed on Dec. 27, 2011. It was later discovered he had been shot in the back of the head by a small caliber gun. He was 53 at the time.
