Monica Justice sentenced to 40 to 45 years in prison for shooting that injured two Franklin County Sheriff’s Office deputies

Posted on 3/22/2023

Defendant: Monica Justice

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge David Young on Tuesday sentenced Monica Greer Justice, also known as Lotus Justice, to 40 to 45 years in prison for a shooting that injured Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputies Marcus Penwell and Gary Bourquin. Forty years of the 40- to 45-year sentence are mandatory.

On June 21, 2020, a Franklin County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team went to Justice’s home at 2672 Beulah Road to serve a probate order to her. After repeated efforts to get Justice to come to the door, deputies breached the door, pursuant to the order. As the SWAT team held their position by the open door, Justice opened fire, striking Deputies Penwell and Bourquin.

Justice retreated into her house, resulting in a multiple-hour standoff with law enforcement. Multiple agencies assisted the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in getting Justice to surrender peacefully.

To get Justice to come out of her home, the SWAT team fired rounds of gas into the house. Justice said she went on the roof to get fresh air. While she was seated on the roof, SWAT officers were able to approach her from behind and take her into custody.

Justice was charged with four counts of felonious assault on a peace officer with specifications and two counts of having weapons while under disability.

After a two-week trial, which began on March 6, a jury convicted Justice, on March 17 on all counts. As per her rights, Justice chose to defend herself during the trial, cross- examining every witness, including the deputies she injured.

Marla Farbacher and Cory Helffrich, both assistant prosecuting attorneys with the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office, prosecuted this case.