ASHLAND — An Ashland County man received a maximum prison sentence this week following his convictions on two counts of rape of a teenager in a 2023 incident.
Michael McKinney, 35, was sentenced Monday in Ashland County Common Pleas Court after a jury deliberated for just one hour following his three-day trial, which ended on April 30, according to a press release issued Wednesday by the Ashland County Prosecutor’s Office.
Judge David R. Stimpert issued a maximum indefinite prison sentence of 11 to 16.5 years in the custody of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. The sentence imposed represents the maximum sentence permitted under Ohio law.
The court also classified McKinney as a Tier III sex offender, requiring him to register every 90 days for life.
“We are grateful to the jury for their careful attention to the evidence and to law enforcement for their diligent investigative work,” Ashland County Prosecutor Christopher Tunnell said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and her family.
“We hope this verdict and sentence aid in their healing process.”
Stimpert further ordered that the Ohio sentence be served consecutively to a prison sentence McKinney is currently serving in Kentucky. McKinney is presently serving a seven-year Kentucky prison sentence for first-degree wanton endangerment and second-degree assault involving a child under the age of 12, Tunnell said.
Following sentencing in Ashland County, Stimpert ordered McKinney returned to the custody of the Kentucky Department of Corrections to complete his sentence there before beginning service of his Ohio prison sentence.
Tunnell said the local offenses occurred during the overnight hours between Aug. 12 and 13, 2023, following a party at McKinney’s residence on State Route 60 in Ashland County. The victim, who was 19 years old at the time of the offenses, testified during trial proceedings.
“Cases involving sexual violence require tremendous courage from victims who come
forward and testify,” Tunnell said.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Metcalf handled the state’s case.
“Assistant Prosecutor Metcalf did an outstanding job preparing and presenting this difficult case,” Tunnell said. “His professionalism, attention to detail and commitment to seeking justice for the victim were evident throughout the trial.”
The two rape counts asserted alternative theories regarding how the offenses were committed, Tunnell said.
One count alleged that McKinney forcibly sexually assaulted the victim, while the second alleged that he engaged in sexual conduct with the victim who was substantially impaired and unable to consent to sexual activity.
The jury found McKinney guilty under both theories.
Stimpert ordered that count one merge with count two for purposes of sentencing. Under Ohio law, merger is a legal doctrine requiring multiple offenses arising from the same conduct or act to be combined for purposes of sentencing.
Tunnell said the investigation was led by Ashland County Sheriff’s Office Detective Aaron Crites, with assistance from the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation laboratory division. Additional assistance was provided by the Ashland Police Division and OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program.
Survivors of sexual assault in Ashland County can access confidential support, advocacy, counseling, shelter and crisis intervention services through Safe Haven.
Survivors can contact the Safe Haven 24/7 hotline at (419)-289-8085 or seek emergency
assistance by calling 911 if they are in immediate danger.