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Rapist gets 10 years in prison for 2009 rape
YOUNGSTOWN
A 49-year-old Canfield Road man who maintains he’s innocent has been sentenced to 10 years in prison on a rape charge.
The sentencing ended a 5-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 maximum sentence Thursday 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.
“I’m grateful to God that this day has finally come and that he was convicted. I believe justice would be that he would serve a lifetime in prison, but, whatever it’s going to be, I accept it,” Miller told the judge.
Court records show 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. Marshals’ 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.
Clark will get credit for the 803 days he already has been jailed.
He must serve five years’ parole after prison and register quarterly with the sheriff as a sex offender as long as he lives.
After Judge Sweeney overruled his motion for a new trial, Clark’s lawyer, Thomas Zena, said an appeal will be filed.
“These allegations brought against me are false, and I will continue to strongly maintain my innocence,” Clark told the judge. “The sex was completely consensual.”