Ohio man gets five years for dragging girlfriend on I-75

Circuit Judge Dan Ballou sentenced a Miamisburg, Ohio man, to five years in prison Tuesday afternoon in connection with a rolling domestic dispute last year that began in Ohio, and ended near Exit 15 in Corbin when the woman was dragged down the road as she tried to exit the vehicle.

On April 8, Darren Maloy, 42, entered an Alford plea to second-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment of Erica Smith on Sept. 28.

In exchange for the Alford plea, prosecutors recommended a total sentence of five years in prison.

Maloy’s attorney, Jason Price, said that his client disputes the factual basis of the charges but admits prosecutors likely had enough evidence to convict him.

In addition to the prison sentence, Ballou ordered Maloy to pay the victim $7,410 in restitution to cover her hospital bill in addition to a $20 arrest fee to the Corbin Police Department and $130 in court costs.

Ballou also credited Maloy with time that he has already served in jail in connection with this case.

Maloy and Smith reportedly got into an argument in Miamisburg after they had been shopping in Ohio, and Maloy allegedly drove Smith for over four hours refusing to let her out of the vehicle, Corbin Police Major Rob Jones said.

The argument centered around Smith ending the relationship.

When they neared Exit 25, Maloy reportedly stopped on the shoulder of I-75 to urinate, and Smith then attempted to exit the vehicle.

"He had his foot on the brake and when she tried to get out, he let off the brake and hit the accelerator," Jones said.

Maloy allegedly dragged Smith down the roadway at speeds reaching about 40 mph, and then took her to Baptist Regional Medical Center for treatment.

He fled the hospital and police found him at the Comfort Inn and Suites Motel, police said.

Maloy told police that the couple was driving down the road when Smith hopped out of the vehicle.