A local man, John Edward Martin, 34, of Uhrichsville, was sentenced to life in prison on Friday for the forcible rape of a young girl, according to Jefferson County court records.
Jefferson County Common Pleas Judge Michele Miller delivered the verdict, imposing two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for 50 years. The charges stem from the rape of a girl who was 11 and 12 years old during the incidents.
Martin’s attorney, Michael J. Goldberg of Cleveland, argued that there was no physical evidence supporting the rape allegations. Goldberg further asserted that the young girl had recanted her story on a previous occasion.
Prosecutor Jeff Bruzzese countered these claims, stating that the victim had disclosed the rape in thousands of text messages to a female friend. The prosecution’s case emphasized the compelling digital evidence, countering the defense’s argument about the absence of physical proof.