CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — A Columbus man who broke into a local residence last year and claimed to be “Jesus” has been sentenced to prison following his guilty plea in Pickaway County Common Pleas Court.
Honorable Judge Matthew H. Chafin sentenced Alexander McGonigle, 32, to 4 to 6 years in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC). The sentencing formally closes a bizarre and terrifying legal saga that began with a home invasion in early 2025.
The Logan Street Intrusion
The prison sentence stems from an incident that unfolded around 4:52 a.m. on April 5, 2025, at a residence on Logan Street. A local couple woke up to find an intruder in their kitchen and were forced to barricade themselves inside their bedroom with a firearm while dialing 911.
Circleville Police officers forced entry through the front door and apprehended McGonigle as he was exiting a bathroom. Following his arrest, McGonigle exhibited highly erratic behavior. He refused to give his real name, instead claiming to officers that he was “Jesus,” “God,” and “Alexander the Great.” He later told investigators that “voices in his head” had commanded him to enter the home.
Evidentiary Findings and Past Warrants
During a search incident to his arrest, officers discovered $2,436 in cash on McGonigle’s person. Investigators determined he had gained entry through a rear window and rifled through the homeowner’s purse, stealing approximately $2,000.
A subsequent “Rapid ID” fingerprint check conducted at Berger Hospital revealed that McGonigle was already wanted by state authorities on an active felony warrant for kidnapping through the ODRC.
Legal Resolution
McGonigle appeared in court in mid-April to enter a guilty plea to a second-degree felony charge of Burglary. In exchange for the plea, accompanying charges of criminal trespass and theft were dismissed.
Following a mandatory Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI), McGonigle returned to the Pickaway County Court of Common Pleas for his final hearing, where Judge Chafin handed down the 4-to-6-year prison term. McGonigle has been transferred from the Pickaway County Jail to the state prison system to begin serving his time.
