Holcomb sentenced for child rape

Chad Holcomb appeared for sentencing via video call from the Monroe County Jail. Holcomb was indicted in May of last year for contributing to the unruliness of a child (a misdemeanor in the first degree), gross sexual imposition (a felony in the third degree), and rape (a felony in the first degree). Holcomb initially confessed upon his arrest to coming to Cadiz to meet with a 12-year-old girl who he admitted to raping in the backseat of a vehicle while two of his friends drove them around the area.

Judge T. Shawn Hervey explained, before Holcomb pleaded, the possible consequences he could be facing for the charges. “Possible penalties for count one, rape, are 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 9, 10, or 11 years at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for a definite term and an indefinite term of up to 16 and a half years maximum. You can also be fined up to $25,000 and you can also have a tier three sex offender designation. Count two, gross sexual impostition, is a felony in the third degree, thus punishable by 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 years at ODRC and a fine of up to $10,000. Count three, contributing to the unruliness of a child, is a misdemeanor of the first degree, that’s punishable by 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. If you’re convicted of either of the felonies this offense would merge with the other offenses.”

If he was to receive a prison sentence, he would have a mandatory post-release control period of five years. If he was to violate the terms of his post-release control then he would have a reserve sentence hanging over his head as sanction.

Holcomb pleaded guilty to the charges.

Hervey pronounced sentence. “[The court] finds the negotiated plea agreement is appropriate. The court will sentence the defendant as follows: As to count one, rape, the defendant is sentenced to prison for a definite period of four years and and indefinite period of up to six years. The court will sentence the defendant on count two, gross sexual imposition, to a three year prison sentence, and the court finds that count three, being a misdemeanor offense, will merge with counts one and two. Counts one and two will run concurrent to each other. This means your aggregate sentence, your total sentence, will be a sentence of a four year definite term up to a six year indefinite term. The court is not going to impose a fine in this but will impose court costs.”

Holcomb will also be a tier three sex offender, which means he will have to register his address with the county sheriff every 90 days for the rest of his life.

“Mr. Holcomb,” Hervey said, “I’ve had a chance to look at the facts of this case. Let me just say this, you’re going to go to prison for a long time. You’ve earned those days by your actions in this case and the harm that you did to the victim. You’re 20 years old and the victim was a young child. You’re not allowed to go after [kids]. You’re not allowed to be a predator. I hope you figure that out while you’re sitting in prison and I hope when you get out you’ll change some decisions in your life.”