Early release granted

Newbury Township woman home from prison more than 10 months early

The Newbury Township woman who admitted tampering with evidence and obstructing justice in her live-in boyfriend’s father’s death is home from prison more than 10 months early.

Gina Battaglia, now 34, was sentenced to two years behind bars by Geauga County Common Pleas Judge David L. Fuhry in connection with the 2011 death of Newbury Township resident

Randy Scheffield.

She was admitted to the Northeast Pre-Release Center on March 17, 2016.

However, new Geauga County Common Pleas Judge Carolyn J. Paschke ruled April 13 that Battaglia deserved early release.

“I think Judge Paschke made a very good, courageous decision,” defense attorney David L. Grant said.

“It was the right thing to do. She has been a model prisoner. The warden of the pre-release center actually wrote a letter to the court recommending her release. That’s unheard of. I’ve never seen that before.”

Grant added that Battaglia

is happy to be reunited with her son.

“She has a special-needs 7-year-old with cerebral palsy who relies almost entirely on her,” he said.

Grant argued that Battaglia did not conspire in the murder. Instead, her conviction was for failing to disclose information that would have potentially helped the state prosecute her co-defendant, Doretta

Scheffield.

Doretta Scheffield, the victim’s wife, was convicted of murdering her husband and hiding the gun. She is serving 25 years to life in prison.

The 53-year-old victim was found deceased in his bed Dec. 27, 2011, with a gunshot wound to the head.

The victim was the owner of Scheffield Lawns landscaping business. His

wife was the bookkeeper and hiding the fact that the couple were more than $100,000 in debt, prosecutors said.

Assistant Geauga County Prosecutor Christopher Joyce had opposed Battaglia’s early release request.

“Judicial release would demean the seriousness of the Defendant’s criminal conduct,” Joyce said in a court motion.