City man is found guilty on 10 counts of raping teenager

William Haschenburger could face 100 years behind bars.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Sentencing of an East Side man on multiple rape counts is expected this morning in the courtroom of Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
A jury of five men and seven women reached a verdict Wednesday after 21/2 hours of deliberation.
The jury found William G. Haschenburger, 47, of Fincastle Lane guilty on each of 10 counts of rape between July 26, 2000, and July 26, 2003, when his victim was age 14 to 17. She is now 19.
Haschenburger could face a prison sentence of 100 years. Dawn Krueger, an assistant county prosecutor, said the possible sentence on each count is three to 10 years.
The trial began Oct. 6.
"We're obviously pleased," Krueger said of the jury's verdict. "This guy is going to get what he deserves."
Defense lawyer Sarah Kovoor asked for a poll of the jury after Judge Krichbaum read the verdicts on each count. All jury members affirmed their decision.
Shocked by relationship
The victim and her parents were among witnesses who testified. Both parents said they were stunned when their daughter's boyfriend told them in February about the relationship between their daughter and Haschenburger and how long it had been going on.
The woman and her parents described Haschenburger as a family friend and a person they trusted around their children. Krueger said Haschenburger used his position of trust to establish a relationship with the woman when she was 13.
Kovoor questioned why the woman waited five years to report the rapes and argued that the prosecution's case was based on the testimony of the woman, her parents and boyfriend, and little physical evidence.
tullis@vindy.com