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10-to-life for raping girl

JANELLE PATTERSON The Marietta Times Christopher D. Reese, 40, of Marietta, listens to his lawyer explain proceedings prior to sentencing in Washington County Common Pleas Court Monday.

Washington County Common Pleas Judge Mark Kerenyi sentenced a Marietta rapist to 10 years to life in prison Monday.

Christopher Dale Reese, 40, of 728 Second St., had previously been indicted in July 2016 for five counts of rape, all first-degree felonies, and eight counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, all third-degree felonies, but was found incompetent to stand trial after he was indicted.

He was then sent to the Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare in Athens to be restored to competency, which in the purview of litigation, meant he was to be educated to be able to understand and participate in his own defense.

Though a state-directed medical evaluation last year found Reese competent, last fall Reese’s attorney Rolf Baumgartel disputed the finding and requested a second, outside evaluation.

“Dr. Kristen Haskins’ evaluation was received May 14 (2018),” he said, noting the clinical psychologist from Grove City also found Reese to be competent to participate in his own defense. “But it did indicate that he has significant intellectual limitation. His IQ, 65, places him in the bottom 1 percent.”

Thus, with the court recognizing competency, Reese pleaded guilty to the first count of rape Monday in exchange for the state dropping the other 12 counts.

In convictions of first-degree rape, the mandatory sentence by state law is a minimum of 10 years with an indefinite determination for serving up to life in prison.

Baumgartel requested, given the mandatory term, that Reese be sentenced immediately following his change of plea Monday.

Part of the reason for the plea was founded in Reese turning himself in the day his son by the child was born.

Reese had turned himself into Marietta Police in the early morning of July 5 for having sexual relations with a minor telling MPD that the girl was showing signs of pregnancy.

Reese insisted he needed to be taken into custody and has remained so since that date.

His victim was 13 years old at the time, and gave birth to their son later that day.

The sexual contact from Reese began before she was 12 years old, according to the statement of facts Assistant Prosecutor Amy Graham read in court Monday.

“He raped me,” she read off the victim’s impact statement. “She was upset because she couldn’t live with her mother and siblings anymore and asked for (Reese’s) incarceration and counseling.”

Graham said the child Reese raped was taken into permanent custody of Washington County Children Services and the now, 15-year-old, mother has retained custody of her child, who is just one month shy of 2 years old.

“She would have conceived in October 2015, doctors determined she carried him to full term,” explained Graham. “For such a young woman she is doing remarkably well with this baby.”

Reports to law enforcement from the victim affirmed that Reese had been raping her a couple of times each month up until he turned himself in on July 5.

Reese apologized in court for his actions.

“I’m really sorry for what I’ve done,” he said. “I’ll never do it again. I’m really sorry.”

Reese will be registered as a Tier III sex offender for the rest of his life and if released after eight years would also be under post-release control for an additional five years.

Kerenyi found Reese was eligible for 706 days confinement credit since he has been incarcerated since July 5, 2016. He must serve at least another eight years in prison before being eligible for release.

At a glance

¯ Christopher Dale Reese, 40, of 728 Second St., was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison, with a possibility of life Monday.

¯ Reese pleaded guilty Monday to rape of a minor, who at the time of the assaults was between 11 and 13 years old.

¯ The victim carried Reese’s son to full term and retains custody of the boy while she remains in the permanent custody of Washington County Children Services as a minor.

Source: Washington County Common Pleas Court.

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