Children Services exec: Do not parole 1980s child rapist

STAFF report

WARREN — Marcia Tiger, executive director of the Trumbull County Children’s Services Board, says former Howland resident John Whisonant should stay in prison 50 more years for raping four children.

Tiger, who has known the victims for 30 years, said in a letter to the Ohio Parole Board that the “despicable, depraved actions” Whisonant, 55, took toward the children has had a “far-reaching effect” on them.

“The nightmare was not over the day he entered prison 25 years ago,” Tiger said. “They grew up fearful and distrusting, sexualized and hungry for emotional attention.”

She added, “Despite years and years of therapy and counseling, the heinous abuse from John Whisonant has distorted their view of the world and all of the relationships they have experienced since.”

Psychological evaluations of the children reported “very low self-esteem, withdrawal, suicidal tendencies” and more, she said.

“I plead with you, as a responsible parole board, to deny John Whisonant’s release. Fifty more years in prison for John Whisonant would not be enough! Do not release this relatively young man back out into society where he can destroy the life of one more child,” Tiger said.

On Tuesday, the Ohio Parole Board will have a hearing to determine whether Whisonant should be released. Whisonant was sentenced to 21 to 75 years in prison in 1985 in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

Whisonant, of Niles Road, was convicted of four counts of rape and one count of gross sexual imposition for acts committed against children age 9, 7, 6 and 5.

Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins wrote to the parole board that the state should “keep him locked up until he dies.”

Whisonant committed the rapes in the fall of 1984 and in 1981.

The offenses came to light in February 1985 when one of the children reported the offenses to a teacher after watching a film at school on child molestation.