Rapist in 2010 crime sentenced to 10 years in prison

YOUNGSTOWN — A 49-year-old Canfield Road man was sentenced to 10 years in prison on a rape charge, ending a five-year-old case, in which the victim had asked an appeals court to order the judge to bring the defendant to trial.

Judge Maureen A. Sweeney imposed the sentence this morning on Maurice Clark, after a jury convicted him last month on one rape count, but acquitted him of another rape count and of a kidnapping count.

After the jury rendered its verdict, the 7th District Court of Appeals dismissed as moot the victim’s February complaint for a writ of mandamus to force the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court judge to bring the case to trial.

The mandamus complaint had been filed on behalf of the victim, LaTreese Miller, 33, of Youngstown, who consented to publication of her name, by the Justice League of Ohio, which gives free legal representation to victims of violent crime.

Court records show that most of the postponements in the case came at the request of the defense, and one came after Clark failed to appear for a Jan. 3, 2013, trial date. He was re-arrested after being placed on the U.S. Marshal’s most-wanted list.

Before the league filed its complaint with the appeals court, the trial had been postponed 21 times.

The crime occurred Sept. 14, 2009, at Clark’s residence; and a grand jury indicted him April 8, 2010.

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com