COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Athens County man was given 20 years to life in prison earlier this month for the rape of a girl.
Joshua Murphy, 35, of Coolville, was sentenced on May 1, 2024, after he was convicted of 10 counts of rape.
According to the Athens County Prosecuting Attorney, law enforcement officers received information that a 14-year-old girl had reported being raped by Murphy in March 2023.
Throughout their investigation, authorities learned that Murphy had sexually assaulted the girl on numerous occasions from the age of nine to 14. The assaults ended after the girl moved away.
“I am proud of law enforcement and Chief Assistant Athens County Prosecutor Liz Pepper for getting another sex offender off the streets,” Prosecutor Keller J. Blackburn said after the sentencing. “A lot of time and effort is put into obtaining justice for the victims of such heinous crimes.”
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