Court of Appeals Confirms Marion County Conviction and Life Sentence for Michael Stith

The appellate court upheld the conviction and life sentence of child rapist Michael Stith.

The 52-year-old former Prospect resident was convicted and sentenced for raping multiple children over nearly three decades.

Marion County Prosecutor Ray Grogan on Tuesday thanked Ohio’s Third District Court of Appeals for upholding the conviction and life sentence of child rapist Michael Stith, 52, formerly of Centerville Green Camp Road in Prospect, Ohio.

According to a release from the Marion County Prosecutor’s office, Grogan previously charged and convicted Stith for raping multiple children over nearly three decades.

Following the efforts of Grogan and his team, Marion County Common Pleas Judge Matthew Frericks sentenced Stith to life in prison. Three counts involved conduct committed in 1997 and 1998, when the victim was under the age of 13. Two other counts involved conduct committed in 2013, when the victim in those matters was under the age of 13.

“There are too many people who think nothing of sexually abusing a child,” Grogan said. “I’ve noticed they are from all walks of life and often work in otherwise respected professions. Criminal predations can come from any source.”

“This is one of the worst rape cases I’ve ever prosecuted,” Grogan said. “Stith preyed on multiple boys for nearly 30 years. I agree with the Court of Appeals – he should die in prison. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Allison Kesler did an outstanding job making the State’s arguments before the Court of Appeals.”

At the sentencing hearing, one of the victims delivered a powerful, 30-plus-minute impact statement. The victim, now an adult, described in detail what Stith did to him, calling Stith a “monster” and expressing hope that Stith “lives in fear for the rest of his life.”

He also spoke about the shame he carried, how difficult it was to come into a courtroom and recount the most intimate details of the sexual abuse, and how he stayed silent for years because he wanted to protect the people he loved.

“Child rape victims often remain silent or even initially deny the abuse because of the powerful shame they feel when someone close to them sexually assaults them,” Grogan continued. “But we know how to prove these cases and justice ultimately prevails.”

Grogan noted he will continue to fight to keep Stith in prison. “Sex offenders like this do everything they can to escape justice, from trying to fool juries, seeking public sympathy, to filing frivolous litigation,” Grogan concluded. “But we are undaunted and results like this show how hard we will fight for child sex abuse victims.”