HOCKING COUNTY, Ohio — A Fairfield County man was found guilty of murder more than a year after a man was fatally stabbed during a party in Hocking County.
Issac Pence, 21, of Carroll, was convicted on Friday of murder, felonious assault, obstructing justice and tampering with evidence. The conviction came after a weeklong jury trial in Hocking County, according to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office.
On April 23, 2023, Hocking County deputies were called to a cabin on Sullivan Road in Sugar Grove after receiving reports of a man who was stabbed during an altercation.
Court records state that a man, 22-year-old Charles Starner, was found lying in the gravel driveway. He was stabbed six times and was airlifted to Grant Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
According to witnesses, Pence left the scene in a small gray SUV and possessed the knife used in the stabbing.
Deputies and detectives found Pence and his girlfriend Sabra Flagg at his home in Fairfield County several hours later after the reported stabbing.
Court records state that Flagg and Pence lied to detectives about the event that happened throughout the evening before the fatal stabbing. Additionally, authorities wrote in an affidavit that Pence lied about where the weapon was located and Flagg lied about knowing where it was disposed of.
Deputies later found and recovered two knives from Pence’s home.
Yost’s office said the incident was "fueled by drugs and alcohol."
Pence faced 21 years to life in prison. He will be sentenced at a later date.
Flagg was charged with obstructing justice after later admitting to police at the time that she lied and “tried to cover for her boyfriend.” The trial is scheduled to start on Sept. 30.