CLERMONT COUNTY, Ohio — Rodney Hinton Jr. was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of fifth-degree felony assault involving corrections officers at the Clermont County Jail.
Clermont County Common Pleas Judge Anthony Brock sentenced Hinton to six months on each count, ordering the sentences to be served consecutively.
The sentence comes less than a week after a Hamilton County jury convicted Hinton of murder and other charges in the death of Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputy Larry Henderson.
Hinton has been held in the Clermont County jail since he hit and killed Henderson on May 2, 2025.
Defense attorney Clyde Bennett filed a motion for a continuance Monday, two days before Hinton's scheduled jury trial. However, the parties later reached a plea agreement, allowing the case to proceed directly to sentencing Wednesday.
Hinton pleaded guilty to all three assault counts. Each carried a potential prison sentence of six to 12 months, meaning Hinton faced a maximum of 36 months in prison if the sentences were imposed consecutively.
None of the three corrections officers involved attended the hearing.
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Body camera footage shows Rodney Hinton Jr. hitting corrections officer
Prosecutors detail assault inside jail
According to prosecutors, the assaults occurred Dec. 13, 2025, while Hinton was being held at the Clermont County Jail awaiting trial in Hamilton County.
Assistant Prosecutor Zach Zipperer told the court Hinton became disruptive in the jail's shower room and grew aggressive when a corrections officer responded.
Officers escorted Hinton back to his cell, where prosecutors said he turned and punched one officer twice with a closed fist, causing physical harm. When two additional officers attempted to restrain him, Hinton continued resisting and kicked at them.
Bennett did not dispute the prosecutor's account, nor did Hinton.
During sentencing, Zipperer argued that Hinton's actions reflected a broader pattern of violence against law enforcement.
"I do believe in any situation where we have assaults on police officers or corrections officers, it's an affront to the criminal justice system," Zipperer said.
Prosecutors requested consecutive prison sentences, pointing to Hinton's criminal history and his recent murder conviction.
Judge cites violent history, acknowledges Hinton's remorse
Bennett asked Brock to impose the minimum prison sentence on each count.
"He accepts responsibility for what he did," Bennett told the judge.
Brock said he reviewed body camera footage of the jail incident before sentencing and considered Hinton's prior convictions, including assault and aggravated menacing.
The judge also acknowledged that Hinton repeatedly apologized to the corrections officers immediately after they restrained him. Brock said those apologies demonstrated Hinton recognized his actions were wrong, although they did not excuse his conduct.
Still, the judge concluded Hinton's history of violence and the circumstances surrounding the assaults warranted prison time.
"I find that only a prison sentence will adequately punish Mr. Hinton and to protect the public from future crime by him," Brock said.
Brock emphasized that he was sentencing Hinton solely for the assaults on the three corrections officers, not for Henderson's death.
The judge also determined that Hinton's criminal history made him more likely to reoffend and justified consecutive sentences.
Hinton received credit for 320 days already served in jail.
Following the hearing, WCPO 9 News asked Bennett whether he wanted to comment on the sentencing. Bennett declined, saying he did not have much to share.
Hinton still awaiting sentencing for deputy's murder
Wednesday's sentence is separate from the punishment Hinton faces in Hamilton County for the death of Deputy Larry Henderson.
A Hamilton County jury found Hinton guilty of murder, two counts of felonious assault and two counts of reckless homicide on Oct. 23.
Jurors rejected his insanity defense but convicted him of the lesser offense of reckless homicide instead of aggravated murder on two counts.
Henderson was directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati during commencement when Hinton struck and killed him with a vehicle, one day after Cincinnati police fatally shot Hinton's 18-year-old son, Ryan.
Hinton faces at least 15 years to life in prison on the murder conviction.
Bennett previously said he intends to appeal the Hamilton County conviction.
Sentencing in that case is scheduled for November 16.
