Rape convict denied parole

WARREN — A former Girard man convicted of dressing as a woman and raping a young male relative in 1990 has been denied parole.

A hearing was held in Columbus to determine whether Don Hall, 62, formerly of Timber Ridge Apartments, Holley Drive, would be released from prison after serving 15 years of a 10- to 25-year prison sentence.

Mike Burnett, an assistant county prosecutor, said the victim, his mother and his sister spoke against the release, and three others spoke on Hall’s behalf.

Burnett said Hall used the hearing to profess his innocence to the charges, but a parole board hearing is not meant as a place to argue innocence or guilt. Its purpose is to determine whether someone has been rehabilitated, Burnett said.

Burnett said the parole board determined that Hall was not a candidate for parole and that he should serve the remaining 10 years of his prison sentence.

Hall was convicted on three counts of rape, each carrying prison terms of 10 to 25 years. The judge in the case ruled that Hall should serve the three sentences at the same time.