Man enters plea deal; rape charge to be dismissed

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

An Austintown man originally charged with rape and multiple counts of gross sexual imposition entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors that could land him behind bars for more than six decades.

Delmas Hayes Jr., 46, of Burkey Road, appeared Thursday before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for a pretrial hearing. He had been indicted on rape charges and 13 counts of gross sexual imposition.

The charges stem from accusations that Hayes sexually assaulted five young girls in 2010. Their ages range from 8 to 12.

Hayes was scheduled for a jury trial Monday but decided to enter into a plea deal with prosecutors.

Under the plea agreement, the rape charge will be dismissed and Hayes will plead guilty to the remaining charges of gross sexual imposition.

Judge Krichbaum will sentence Hayes on those charges Jan. 10.

Hayes could be sentenced to five years in prison on each of the sexual- imposition charges for a total of 65 years in prison.

Prosecutors, under terms of the plea agreement, however, are recommending a 10-year sentence, but the judge doesn’t have to follow that recommendation.

Hayes also could face fines totaling $130,000.

The mother of two of the girls in question, reportedly, came to file a report in July after her daughters told her Hayes had put his hand down the fronts of their pants while they were visiting his home about a year ago.

One of the girls said she also saw Hayes touch the buttocks of another girl who was at the home.

The girls were friends with Hayes’ daughter and spending the night with her when the reported incidents occurred, police reports said.

The victims’ mother told police the girls didn’t tell her sooner because they were afraid they would get into trouble.

Police said a total of five victims were discovered, one of whom said she was raped.