Michael A. Cornelius, a former captain in the Madeira/Indian Hills fire department, pled guilty Tuesday to two charges stemming from an attack on an Ohio State student last May.
Cornelius, 33, was in Columbus for a leadership conference May 9 when he broke into an apartment and held a 21-year-old woman at knife point until her roommate came home.
The roommate saw what was happening inside the apartment and called 911. Columbus police arrested Cornelius shortly after the call.
According to Cornelius’ attorney Tom Beal, the victim told police Cornelius “appeared drunk or something,” and he said “I’m not going to take anything. I’m not going to hurt you. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
Cornelius was in good standing as a captain in the suburban Cincinnati fire department, Fire Chief Steven Ashbrock told local media. He was in charge of personnel scheduling and training.
A judge ruled in August that Cornelius was incompetent to stand trial. A psychologist testified the defendant understood the charges but suffered from a severe mental illness, which authorities declined to elaborate on. A judge ordered Cornelius to Twin Valley Behavioral Health Center for a year. After several weeks of treatment, Cornelius was competent to plead guilty.
He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to one charge of aggravated burglary and one charge of abduction. He is being held in Franklin County jail until a Jan. 26 sentencing date.
