Sex offender gets 5 years for trying to kidnap 4-year-old
NEWARK — A registered sex offender who attempted to snatch a preschooler from a car was sentenced Tuesday in Licking County Common Pleas Court to more than five years in prison.
Cody Bartimus, 25, of Newark, received four years for attempted kidnapping and 18 months for abduction, with the terms to be served consecutively. He was credited with 200-plus days that he’s spent behind bars since his June arrest.
Bartimus had been released from prison in 2016 after serving time for attempted sexual conduct with a minor and importuning in a separate case. He was still on parole on June 7 when he ran up to a parked vehicle, pushed a Newark woman and attempted to grab a 4-yearold girl strapped in a car seat.
According to court documents, Bartimus told the youngster “that he loved her” before the mother pulled him away and yelled for help.
Later that day, he was found by Newark police and taken to a hospital for treatment of a possible drug overdose. He was arrested shortly afterward and admitted trying to take the child from the car, according to documents.
The victims were not on hand for Tuesday’s hearing. Assistant Prosecutor Jenna Joseph said the mother in the case was still traumatized by the incident.
“Since this event, she’s had extreme difficulty leaving her children,” Joseph said.
Bartimus did not offer a statement after pleading guilty to the charges Tuesday or before his sentencing, though his attorney expressed remorse on his behalf and noted the serious mental health issues involved.
“The problem here is that you obviously have these mental health problems that you don’t treat properly,” said Judge David Branstool.