Leesburg man gets 15 years to life in rape case

A Leesburg man accused of raping a child under the age of 10 was sentenced recently to 15 years to life in prison.

As previously reported, Paul S. Cox Jr., 34, was indicted by a Highland County grand jury in September and charged with rape, a first-degree felony; and gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony. 

According to court records, Cox pleaded guilty to the rape charge in November, with the GSI charge dismissed. 

The indictment alleged that during an approximate two-day period in 2024, Cox “did engage in sexual conduct with” a victim “less than 10 years of age.” 

Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss sentenced Cox to an indefinite prison term of 15 years to life in prison. Cox had 72 days of jail time credit. He will also be classified as a tier III sex offender, requiring registration every 90 days for life.

Cox was admitted into the Correctional Reception Center in Orient Dec. 4, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

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