An Ironton man convicted of felonious assault and kidnapping will spend the next 10 years in prison, Judge Charles Cooper ruled Wednesday.

Following a two-day jury trial, Flint Topping, 39, of 23 N. Fifth St., Ironton, was convicted Friday of beating a woman while they were inside a vehicle. The kidnapping charge stems from Topping apparently holding the woman against her will while they were in the vehicle. The two knew each other for two weeks prior to the December incident, Prosecutor Bob Anderson said.

Topping’s sentence of eight years for felonious assault and 10 years for kidnapping is the maximum allowed for the convictions.

Against the prosecution’s recommendation, Judge Cooper ruled that the two sentences should be served at the same time, for a total sentence of 10 years.

Anderson had recommended that the terms be served one after another, for a total of 18 years in prison.

Cooper explained that his decision not to run the sentences consecutively was based on previous Ohio cases that considered cases with charges of felonious assault and kidnapping that occurred during the same incident.

Topping previously served seven years in prison for the rape of a girl under the age of 13 and has also been convicted of sexual imposition, attempted failing to report as a sex offender and disorderly conduct, Anderson told the court.

His attorney, David Reid Dillon, told the court Wednesday that, contrary to what the prosecution said during the trial, some of the injuries the victim in the case received were due to her falling down. He also said the woman’s hair coming out was accidental, though the prosecution contended Topping pulled it out.

Topping told the judge Wednesday that he plans to file an appeal, for which defense attorney Mike Davenport has been appointed.