Ohio ex-doctor: judge erred in sentencing court

COLUMBUS (AP) — A former Ohio doctor convicted of causing the 2012 death of an expectant mother with a heroin overdose says a judge erred in sentencing him to 36 years in prison.

An attorney for Ali Salim says the Delaware County judge didn’t consider evidence that Salim is at low risk of further criminal behavior and that his behavior was not the worst form of the offense.

Attorney Sam Shamansky argued in a Tuesday filing with the Fifth Ohio District Court of Appeals that Salim never intended to harm victim Deanna Ballman because they met by agreement for sexual activity.

Investigators say the 23-year-old Ballman, who was nine months pregnant, had been forced to turn to prostitution to support herself and two young children after returning to Ohio after a divorce.