Highland County man sentenced in child rape case
Lead Summary
By
Caitlin Forsha-crforsha@gmail.com
A Greenfield man indicted on 24 charges earlier this year was sentenced Friday to 15 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to raping a child.
As previously reported, Nathan Murray, 32, faced 24 felonies after a Highland County grand jury charged him with rape, illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, gross sexual imposition and pandering obscenity involving a minor.
During a plea hearing Friday morning, Murray pleaded guilty to the first-degree felony rape charge, with the other 23 charges dismissed.
For that charge, the indictment alleged that during an approximate 10-month span, Murray “did engage in sexual contact” with a child under the age of 10.
It was noted during the July 30 hearing that Murray had prior convictions of sex offenses. According to court records, Murray was found guilty of importuning in 2010 and failure to register a change of address as a sex offender in 2011, both in Highland County.
“You’ve been in here in 2010 and 2011, both involving some sex offenses,” Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss said. “Unfortunately for the victim in this matter, this has led to your committing a rape against [the victim].”
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Coss sentenced Murray to 15 years to life in prison. The minimum 15-year term is mandatory, according to the judge, as he advised there “will be no early release, judicial release, no reduction in that.”
Murray had jail time credit of 171 days. He is also classified as a Tier III sex offender, requiring registration every 90 days for life.
“I think it’s the hope of the state that you spend the rest of your life in prison,” Coss told Murray. “This sentence will allow that. Hopefully the Adult Parole Authority will recognize the danger you pose to the public and to young children.
“The only way you get out is if the Adult Parole Authority decides you should be given parole,” Coss added later. “If I were you, I’d just plan on being in prison for the rest of my life.”
The judge also told Murray that he “wouldn’t object to” the death penalty if that was allowable in this case (which, legally, it is not).
“Whatever sentence I will impose, whether life without parole or the minimum, is not enough,” Coss said. “This is one of the most despicable crimes to be committed by anyone — rape of a child, especially a child of this age. It’s just incomprehensible how anyone can do something like that. If it were punishable by death, I wouldn’t object to that.”
After the hearing, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins praised law enforcement for their investigation of the case.
“I want to commend Lt. Brian McNeil [of the Greenfield Police Department] and Investigator Randy Sanders on an excellent investigation,” Collins told The Highland County Press. “They have made our county safer in building a case so we could prosecute this man and he could get the sentence he deserved.”
According to court records for the Southern District of Ohio, a federal indictment has also been filed against Murray on alleged child pornography charges. That case is pending.
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As previously reported, Nathan Murray, 32, faced 24 felonies after a Highland County grand jury charged him with rape, illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, gross sexual imposition and pandering obscenity involving a minor.
During a plea hearing Friday morning, Murray pleaded guilty to the first-degree felony rape charge, with the other 23 charges dismissed.
For that charge, the indictment alleged that during an approximate 10-month span, Murray “did engage in sexual contact” with a child under the age of 10.
It was noted during the July 30 hearing that Murray had prior convictions of sex offenses. According to court records, Murray was found guilty of importuning in 2010 and failure to register a change of address as a sex offender in 2011, both in Highland County.
“You’ve been in here in 2010 and 2011, both involving some sex offenses,” Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss said. “Unfortunately for the victim in this matter, this has led to your committing a rape against [the victim].”
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Coss sentenced Murray to 15 years to life in prison. The minimum 15-year term is mandatory, according to the judge, as he advised there “will be no early release, judicial release, no reduction in that.”
Murray had jail time credit of 171 days. He is also classified as a Tier III sex offender, requiring registration every 90 days for life.
“I think it’s the hope of the state that you spend the rest of your life in prison,” Coss told Murray. “This sentence will allow that. Hopefully the Adult Parole Authority will recognize the danger you pose to the public and to young children.
“The only way you get out is if the Adult Parole Authority decides you should be given parole,” Coss added later. “If I were you, I’d just plan on being in prison for the rest of my life.”
The judge also told Murray that he “wouldn’t object to” the death penalty if that was allowable in this case (which, legally, it is not).
“Whatever sentence I will impose, whether life without parole or the minimum, is not enough,” Coss said. “This is one of the most despicable crimes to be committed by anyone — rape of a child, especially a child of this age. It’s just incomprehensible how anyone can do something like that. If it were punishable by death, I wouldn’t object to that.”
After the hearing, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins praised law enforcement for their investigation of the case.
“I want to commend Lt. Brian McNeil [of the Greenfield Police Department] and Investigator Randy Sanders on an excellent investigation,” Collins told The Highland County Press. “They have made our county safer in building a case so we could prosecute this man and he could get the sentence he deserved.”
According to court records for the Southern District of Ohio, a federal indictment has also been filed against Murray on alleged child pornography charges. That case is pending.
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