Clark County Common Pleas Judge Douglas Rastatter sent Portman back to the county jail, where he will be detained until sentencing June 28.
Portman was shot in the face on Sunday, Sept. 2, at his business, Labelz 4 Less on East Main Street, by a woman who told police Portman held a gun to her head and raped her at the business.
The victim, who is an escort, told police she wrestled the gun from Portman and shot him before she drove to Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton for help.
Detectives interviewed Portman after he initially told investigators he couldn’t remember who shot him or where he was when he was shot.
The Clark County Common Pleas jury had been deliberating for less than four hours Friday afternoon before informing the trial judge that a verdict had been reached.
Amy Smith, a county assistant prosecutor, said, Portman’s story that he was a victim didn’t match the forensic evidence.
The woman agreed to meet Portman at his place of business, but her intention was not to have sex, Smith said. The woman tried to leave when she felt uncomfortable and Portman pulled a gun.
“The problem with the defendant’s position has been is that there hasn’t been a position from the get-go.”
Portman came to police to explain his version of what happened once the woman came forward and alleged rape, Smith said.
A family member of Portman’s left the courtroom after the verdicts were announced, saying she “couldn’t hear the rest” as the bailiff opened the door.
A man who identified himself as Portman’s brother did not agree to be interviewed on camera, but said his brother “said everything that needed to be said” in court and that the jury did not listen.
The man also noted there was one black juror compared to 11 white jurors and he felt that impacted the verdict.
Smith said the jury was seated fairly, in accordance with legal procedure. “The jury is made up of members of the community. Who was seated is who was seated,” she said.
One of the jurors, a black man, said he knew some of the defendant’s family members and was removed from jury service for this case, Smith said.
The woman, in the back of the courtroom, wept after the verdict was delivered.
Smith said the woman expressed relief that the case was over and that Portman would not bother her anymore.
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