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Child rapist gets 12-year sentence
YOUNGSTOWN — A Columbiana man convicted of raping a young child will spend the next 12 years in prison and pay fines of $20,000.
A Mahoning County grand jury indicted Jeremiah Landis, 27, of North Cross Street, in March on eight counts of raping a child under age 10. He was arrested in early March.
Landis ultimately pleaded guilty to three counts of rape in July. He appeared for sentencing Wednesday before Judge James C. Evans of common pleas court.
Judge Evans sentenced Landis to six years on counts one and two to be served concurrently. Landis was sentenced to a consecutive six-year term on the third count and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.
Atty. Terry Grenga, representing Landis, said her client has shown remorse throughout the court proceedings and has assisted with the investigation. She said Landis had been abused as a child and that abuse may have factored into the situation.
Several people, including Landis, his sister and the victim’s mother, addressed the court during the sentencing.
Landis apologized to the court and the victim. He said he would like to receive help and said he does not want to be the same “monster” as the individual who molested him years ago.
“There is no pain worse than what I feel right now knowing that I put [a] child through what I went through,” he said. “I deserve to be punished by all means.”
In a prepared statement, the victim’s mother told the court the young girl has been scarred for life by Landis’ actions. She told the court Landis deserves a stiff sentence and that she believes he is capable of repeating his actions if given the opportunity.
“Jeremiah Landis has done the worse possible act. ... He has not only taken her innocence, but her trust and love as well. She will never be the same little girl she was,” the woman said. “He has destroyed her life. She will always carry this with her and wonder why he did what he did. She blames herself. ... She will need lots of counseling to learn how to love and trust again.”
jgoodwin@vindy.com