Woman who tried to strangle mother loses appeal

A judge did not err by sentencing a Willowick woman who tried to strangle her mother on Thanksgiving Day to seven years in prison, according to a recent 11th District Court of Appeals decision.

Joanna Barnes, 26, admitted to choking her 56-year-old mother with a cord on Nov. 26, 2015, at the victim’s East 300th Street home and then holding a towel over the victim’s face. Her sister admitted helping her choke their mother and holding a pillow over her face.

She pleaded guilty to felonious assault and was sentenced in August by Lake County Common Pleas Judge Richard L. Collins Jr. to the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville.

Her defense attorney argued she needed mental health treatment, not prison.

On appeal, Barnes claimed Collins ignored and discounted mitigating factors at sentencing, including her extensive history as a victim of physical and sexual abuse.

A three-judge appellate panel disagreed, finding the trial court

judge did properly consider those factors.

In his 3-0 opinion, appellate Judge Timothy P. Cannon wrote that Collins did not find a direct connection among Barnes’ mental health diagnoses, her alleged history of abuse and the actions against her mother.

“... The defendant certainly did have a challenging and chaotic childhood, a very poor childhood, characterized as being victimized by many others in her lifetime, and I certainly understand that,” Collins said at sentencing. “I’ve considered that, but I don’t see it

“... The defendant certainly did have a challenging and chaotic childhood, a very poor childhood, characterized as being victimized by many others in her lifetime, and I certainly understand that.”

as any justification or excuse for committing the crime that was committed in this particular case. Trying to kill anyone is horrible, despicable and appalling; but certainly, trying to kill one’s own mother is even worse than that.”

Eleventh District judges Diane V. Grendell and Thomas R. Wright concurred.

The maximum sentence in the case was eight years in prison.

Barnes’ sister, 24-yearold Jennifer Barnes, pleaded guilty to the same crime and was given the same sentence.

Jennifer Barnes did not appeal her sentence.

After a struggle, the victim managed to flee, but suffered severe lacerations around her neck, and bruises.

Barnes