The trial of Nathanael Sexton in Greene County started early yesterday, on Tuesday, October 19, before Judge Dena Martin in Greene Superior Court with the successful seating of a jury followed by opening statements by Greene County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Keven McIntosh and Defense Attorney Joseph Lozano of Bloomington.

Nathanael Sexton, booking photo after trial on October 19, 2021

Prior to the current case, Sexton has a criminal history involving similar incidents, but the others all occurred in Monroe County, until the latest incident when he stepped over the line, the county line, and charges were filed in Greene County. In keeping with the trial rules, information about previous incidents was not allowed to be introduced during trial.

After witness testimony, the trial concluded and the jury retired to deliberations around suppertime.

Around 9 p.m. the jury returned to the courtroom with verdicts of guilty on two counts: Criminal confinement where a vehicle is used, a Level 5 felony, and battery resulting in bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor. Sexton was then remanded into the custody of the Greene County Sheriff and booked into the Greene County Jail where he’s being held without bond pending sentencing.

The story below, in “Sexton Case Update 1,” is a reprint of the original story on GreeneStreets posted when Sexton was arrested by Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Davis Aerne.

When Sexton’s case went to trial in early September, it ended in a mistrial due to problems seating a jury – the trial was rescheduled for this week.

A separate post this evening will be, “Sexton Case Update 2,” a reprint of a story following the mistrial written by Laura Lane of the Herald Times, reprinted with permission. It includes the reasons for the mistrial as well as information on Sexton’s criminal history.

Watch for another post on another day, “Sexton Case Update 3,” covering this week’s trial, and another update will be posted when Sexton is sentenced.

Story posted on GreeneStreets in June 2018:

Bloomington man arrested after woman takes off running to avoid getting back in his truck

When a woman called 911 saying she had gotten out of a truck and took off running because the driver had choked her, slammed her into the dashboard and threatened to kill her, and that she was hiding in some bushes, it was around 12:24 a.m. and she was out in the country, in eastern Greene County. Three minutes later, a Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived in the area, hit the flashing emergency lights and then saw her emerge from bushes behind a house.

This incident occurred on Monday, June 18. Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Davis Aerne responded, arriving in an area near Greene County Line Road and East Chapel Road around 12:27 a.m., then investigating the complaint which led to an arrest.

Nathanael Sexton, 31, of Bloomington, was later booked in to the Greene County Jail by Deputy Aerne. His bond was set at $9,000 surety with ten percent allowed. He posted $900 cash and was released later the same day.

After the woman was in the patrol vehicle, Deputy Aerne requested an ambulance to do a medical check on her because she was having a hard time breathing. Then she was transported to her parents home in Bloomington where the deputy did a welfare check on them because the woman told him Sexton had threatened to kill them too.

According to a probable cause affidavit prepared by Deputy Aerne detailing his investigation, the woman had been staying with a family member in the Solsberry area and Sexton was an ex-boyfriend who picked her up to go to the store and return some clothing to her. But once in his truck, she said he started to yell and call her names. She asked to get out of the truck but was unsuccessful.

Aerne wrote that she said he grabbed her and slammed her into the dashboard three or four times and her head hit the windshield once. The deputy reported she had multiple bruises and complained of pain in a leg. She also said he got her down in the seat, put his forearm across her throat and chest – she said she could not breathe and saw spots, like she was going to pass out. She said she was choked twice.

According to the affidavit, she was trying to calm him down so she would not get hurt anymore and got him to stop at the Chapel on Greene County Line Road where they got out of the truck and sat down on a brick wall. She allegedly told the deputy that Sexton threatened to kill her and her family if she did not get back into the truck. When they got back to the truck, she took off running.

Sexton is facing preliminary charges of:

Strangulation, a Level 6 felony
Criminal confinement, a Level 6 felony
Battery resulting in bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor

The case was filed in Greene Superior Court by Greene County Deputy Prosecutor Keven McIntosh. Defense Attorney Sam Shapiro of Bloomington is representing Sexton, with an initial hearing scheduled on Thursday, June 28.