The plea and charges
Prosecutors say 32-year-old Dawone Andrew Hodge entered a guilty plea to felonious assault and aggravated robbery, charges that include a three-year firearm specification tied to his use of a handgun in the crime. As part of the agreement, Hodge accepted a sentence of between seven and ten years in state prison, while additional counts of aggravated robbery, felonious assault and grand theft were dismissed by the court.
Court records show Hodge remains held in the Montgomery County Jail and is scheduled to return to court for formal sentencing on October 16, when a judge will decide his final term within the agreed range.
Shooting at ex-girlfriend’s home
The case stems from an August 2023 incident at the woman’s home on South Williams Street in Dayton, where investigators say an argument between Hodge and his former girlfriend turned violent. According to an affidavit, the woman told police that Hodge pulled out a silver handgun and shot her in the leg and foot before fleeing the scene in her SUV.
Police say the stolen vehicle was later recovered, while the victim was rushed to a hospital and required surgery to treat her gunshot wounds.
Prior record and supervision
At the time of the shooting, Hodge was on parole following a previous conviction for drug-related offenses, having served about two years at the Mansfield Correctional Institution before his release in January 2023, according to state correctional records. The new convictions mean the 32-year-old faces not only the agreed-upon prison term for the assault and robbery, but also potential consequences from parole authorities for violating his existing supervision.
Local officials have pointed to the case as another example of how domestic disputes can escalate into serious gun violence, underscoring the risks victims face when former partners return to their homes.