A Logan County man has now been sentenced after being found guilty last month on rape and sexual battery charges.
Judge Kevin Braig on Friday sentenced Alec Berry in Logan County Common Pleas Court after his convictions on one count of rape, a first-degree felony, and one count of sexual battery, a second-degree felony.
Berry was found guilty after a two-day bench trial in April.
He had waived his right to a jury trial, allowing Judge Braig to hear the case and issue the verdict.
Following the guilty finding, Berry’s bond was revoked, and he remained in custody at the Logan County Jail awaiting sentencing.
Judge Braig sentenced Berry to 19 to 24-and-a-half years in prison, the maximum sentence permitted under Ohio law for the offenses.
The prison terms for both offenses are mandatory.
Judge Braig ordered the sentences to be served consecutively after finding that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime by Berry and to punish him.
The judge also determined the sentence was not disproportionate to the seriousness of Berry’s conduct or the danger he poses to the public.
Upon his release from prison, Berry will be required to register as a Tier III sex offender and will be subject to five years of post-release control supervision.
During Friday’s sentencing hearing, the victim and her mother addressed the court and requested the maximum possible prison sentence.
Berry declined to make a statement to the court.
Defense attorney Colin McNamee said Berry continues to maintain his innocence and plans to appeal both his conviction and sentence to the Third District Court of Appeals.
The case was prosecuted by Logan County Assistant Prosecutor Erin Rosen.
Berry was represented by defense attorney Colin McNamee.
