CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — The legal troubles continue for Brent A. Cox, a man whose criminal history in Pickaway County dates back to a high-profile, drug-related fatal shooting over a decade ago. Following his release from prison and subsequent placement on supervision, Cox has been rearrested and is currently being held in the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Jail—facing a probation violation alongside a new charge of aggravated menacing.
Background: The 2011 Wayne Township Homicide
The roots of Cox’s lengthy entanglement with the local justice system trace back to October 12, 2011, when Rodney Metcalfe was killed during a robbery in Wayne Township. Investigators established that Metcalfe was shot in the back of the head and robbed of cash and prescription painkillers.
Cox and an accomplice, Donald R. Shepard, were arrested for the crime. After a June 2012 trial resulted in a partial mistrial due to a deadlocked jury on a murder count (though Cox was acquitted of aggravated murder and initial murder charges), Cox accepted a plea deal in February 2013. He pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter with a firearm specification and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. His co-defendant, Shepard, received a 16-year sentence.
Return to Custody and New Charges
After serving the bulk of his sentence at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution and transitioning to state supervision, Cox’s freedom has unraveled.
Authorities booked him back into the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Jail following his recent rearrest. In addition to being cited for a violation of his supervision terms, court and jail records reflect that Cox has been additionally charged with aggravated menacing, bringing fresh legal jeopardy as he faces proceedings before the local court.
