Kenton Man Gets 3 Years in Prison for Grand Theft, Money Laundering, and Tampering with Records

A Kenton man was sentenced Tuesday on multiple felony charges in Hardin County Common Pleas Court.

Christopher Kitchen pleaded guilty to theft, grand theft, money laundering and tampering with records back in February.

He was hoping to be put on community control with maybe some local jail incarceration, which was part of joint sentencing recommendation between the Hardin County Prosecutor’s Office and his attorney as part of a plea agreement.

Judge Steve Christopher however rejected the recommendation saying that a message must be sent in order to protect the community from crimes like these perpetrated not only by Kitchen but by any others who may think about committing them.

Judge Christopher scolded Kitchen for hurting a poor community that has struggled financially, a community that took a chance in loaning him money only to be defrauded.

The judge also questioned Kitchen’s remorse, saying his remorse is only because he got caught.

With that Kitchen was sentenced to a total of 36 months in prison and was ordered to pay a fine of $4000.

Kitchen was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of just over $53,500.

Judge Christopher noted that it may take Kitchen a little longer to pay restitution given the sentence, but he said there’s no reason that Kitchen can’t resume efforts to repay the money after completing the prison time.