Harrison County Woman Pleads Guilty to Role in Child’s Death

Carri Graham

As part of a plea agreement, Jessica Lynn Currence changed her plea to guilty to a charge of reckless homicide in the death of her boyfriend's 8-year-old daughter.

Currence, 28, of 34920 Cadiz-Piedmont Road, Cadiz, appeared before Harrison County Common Pleas Judge T. Shawn Hervey and changed her previous plea of innocent to guilty. She was set to begin a jury trial this week prior to coming to a plea agreement with the prosecution.

Currence pleaded guilty to the third-degree felonies reckless homicide, attempted endangering children and tampering with evidence, as well as to first-degree misdemeanor domestic violence. As part of the agreement, a number of other charges were dropped, including involuntary manslaughter, child abuse and felonious assault.

The charges stem from the June 27, 2021 death of 8-year-old Paityn Merkins, the daughter of Kristopher Merkins, who died in the couple's former home in the Moorefield area.

A cause of death has not been released.

Hervey said each of the felony charges carries between nine and 36 months in the custody of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and a fine of up to $10,000. The misdemeanor carries a sentence of up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Hervey said the sentences could run consecutively, meaning the greatest penalty Currence could face would be 108 months, or nine years, in prison.

After explaining the charges and possible penalties, Hervey asked Currence if it was still her wish to waive a jury trial and enter a plea of guilty to the aforementioned charges. She responded, "Yes."

Jacob Will, Currence's defense attorney, requested a pre-sentencing investigation. Hervey granted the request.

"Because it's necessary when a party asks for a pre-sentence investigation, we have to grant one. It's necessary for the court to give some time between the taking of the plea and the sentencing to have that pre-sentencing investigation completed," the judge said.

A sentencing hearing was set for March 3.

Prosecutor Lauren Knight said any victim impact statements will be presented at the sentencing. Currence remains out of jail on an $80,000 bond.

Currence's boyfriend and father of the child also has been charged in connection with the death.

Kristopher Merkins, 33, has a jury trial slated for March 7-10. He has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, child abuse, felonious assault, reckless homicide, four counts of endangering children and domestic violence.

Following the hearing, Knight said she could not divulge any further details in the case due to the ongoing case with Merkins.

In regards to Tuesday's plea agreement, Knight said, "No resolution past a child being brought back to life is ever going to be enough, so we're not happy but we're happy that we can have the family start to move forward."