Hillsboro man pleads guilty to rape, sentenced to 10 years to life

A Hillsboro man was sentenced this week to 10 years to life in prison, after pleading guilty to a first-degree felony charge of rape.

Austin James Taylor, 29, was indicted by a Highland County grand jury in September on two counts of rape, both first-degree felonies, and one count of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony. The indictment was initially made secret.

The indictment alleged that in June of this year, Taylor “did engage in sexual conduct” with a child under the age of 13 “living separate and apart” from Taylor.

Taylor pleaded guilty to the first charge in the indictment Nov. 28, with the other two charges dismissed, according to court records.

After accepting Taylor’s guilty plea, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss sentenced Taylor to a definite determinate term of 10 years to life in prison. Taylor had 77 days of jail time credit.

In addition, Taylor will be classified as a tier III sex offender, requiring registration every 90 days for life.