Resident sentenced in power saw attack on wife

Oswald John Tallent

The Canton Township man accused of assaulting his wife with an electric table saw and physically abusing his 8-year-old daughter has been sentenced to 28 to 50 years in prison.

Oswald John Tallent, 47, was found guilty of assault to intent to murder, torture and assault with intent to do great bodily harm. Tallent was also convicted of third-degree child abuse in connection with an assault on his 8-year-old daughter.

According to court documents, Canton Township police were dispatched to the 7300 block of Stonebrook Drive at 1:14 p.m. March 30, 2020 in response to a domestic violence incident. Upon arrival, the officers discovered Tallent's wife in the driveway of the residence with lacerations to her face and body. The 8-year-old victim was also found to have a bump on her head and scrapes on her body.

Prosecutors alleged the defendant caused the lacerations to his wife's face with a saw and that he slammed the 8-year-old onto the pavement before dragging her up the driveway by her hair during the altercation with his wife. Following emergency care at the scene by Canton EMTs, the victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The couple's two other children, ages 6 and 4, were not harmed in the incident, according to police reports.

Tallent fled the scene on foot but was apprehended in a  nearby field by police and arrested, prosecutors said. Tallent was arraigned on the charges on April 1, 2020 in 35th District Court.

Tallent was sentenced to serve 28 to 50 years for assault with intent to murder, 28 to 50 years for torture, 10 to 20 years for assault with intent to do great bodily harm, and two to four years for third-degree child abuse, to be served concurrently.