COLUMBUS (WCMH) – A former Ohio State University drum major was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual battery.
Stewart Kitchen pleaded guilty to one count of sexual battery in May. Kitchen was originally charged with two counts of rape and an additional sexual battery charge, but those charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
The full sentence includes 36 months in prison, five years probation and he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Kitchen led the band as head drum major in 2006-07. He was a drum major instructor in 2015, teaching the leaders of the marching band.
Court documents allege Kitchen and a 19-year-old woman went out drinking in April of 2015, then walked to his Columbus home. The woman reported that Kitchen refused to return her to her home and sexually assaulted her in his bedroom as she tried to escape and told him to stop, an investigator said in an affidavit filed in court.
The victim in the case read a statement in court just before the sentencing.
Kitchen’s attorney says the 29-year-old has taken responsibility for what happened and has been remorseful. The lawyer says Kitchen has an otherwise exemplary background, including extensive community involvement in Kenton, where he grew up.The Associated Press contributed to this report.