Salem man gets five years in prison on sex charges

LISBON — Judge David Tobin of Columbiana County Common Pleas Court sentenced a man today to a total of five years in prison on charges of gross sexual imposition and rape for having sex with a young girl.

John Cope, 38, of Salem, had been indicted on the charges in 2008, and he pleaded guilty to them earlier this year. The judge gave him five years on each charge to run concurrently. He could have received a total of 15 years in prison.

The acts occurred from 2000 to 2006. The victim is now 15. She was 6 when the crimes first started. Cope had tried to plead not guilty by reason of insanity, but Judge Tobin found he was competent to stand trial.