BUCYRUS—After more than two years of delays, a pandemic, and countless motions heard and mostly denied, a Galion man learned his fate in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.

Visiting Judge Howard Hall presided over the trial and then sentenced Joshua A.C. Benedict, 40, of Galion.

On April 30th, Benedict was found guilty of two counts of rape of a victim under the age of ten years old, one count of gross sexual imposition, one count of pandering obscenity involving a minor, and 82 counts of pandering sexually explicit material involving a minor.

Before sentencing, Judge Hall allowed the state and defense to make pre-sentence arguments. Hall noted for the record that the victim and family were not present but directed Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler to speak on their behalf.

Before making comments, Judge Hall dismissed the defense’s motion for a new trial, saying that based on the state’s response (as previously reported by Crawford County Now), the new evidence did not rise to a level worthy of a new trial. Defense attorney Adam Stone formally objected to the Judge’s findings for purposes of appeal.

Crawford County Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler addressed the court first; “I believe the most important part of the sentencing is the victim’s thoughts. The court has seen the impact this has had on the victim and the victim’s family. You saw the victim testify and heard what the then nine-year-old had to endure. She has to live with this horrible sexual assault that was done to her at nine years old. The victim was 14 when she testified.” Hoovler said.

Hoovler went on to point out that the legislature calls for a sentence of life in prison without parole for 15 years. He noted with two life sentences. Benedict would do at least 30 years before seeing a parole board for the first time on the rape convictions alone.

“Your Honor, the victim trusted him. He was the fun uncle. Mr. Benedict took that relationship and used it to commit these horrible, despicable, and terrible crimes against the victim. I believe that’s a part of sentencing you need to look at when you decide the appropriate and just sentences on the two counts of rape.” Hoovler said.

Hoovler told the Judge that regarding the other 82 counts, “You saw the videos, you saw the pictures, you saw the impact that these had on the children in those pictures and videos.” Hoovler said.

Hoovler pointed out that without predators like Benedict, there wouldn’t be a market for the images. “He (Benedict)was the demand that caused the supply. Because of that, I believe he needs to be punished for having those terrible images that create a demand.” Hoovler said.

Hoovler asked for two life sentences without the possibility of parole for 15 years to run consecutively and the maximum sentence on the other 82 counts.

Defense attorney Adam Stone made the argument that the legislature gives the Judge wide discretion in sentencing, suggesting concurrent sentences on the rape convictions.

“The state wants to take away two lives from him (Benedict) as though he has two lives to give. I believe my client’s one life is enough.” Stone said.

Attorney Stone asked the court to give Benedict the least possible sentence. Stone told the court he was aware that people in the community wanted Benedict to get the maximum sentence for his convictions. Stone called anyone who didn’t believe his client deserved the lightest sentence “small-minded.”

Stone suggested that the state was trying to stop other people from these kinds of crimes through his client’s sentencing.

“The reality is these crimes go on and on. People who commit these crimes are very, very sick and generally have a long history. My client is very, very different. He has no criminal history. He had a very positive upbringing with a very supportive family.” Stone said.

Stone went on to tell the court that Benedict had nothing in his background or neurological assessment that would suggest his client had those tendencies. He asked the court to give Benedict the least possible sentence.

Judge Hall noted that in his experience, sex offenders were very hard for parole authorities to supervise and that the rate of recidivism is a serious thing to consider.

Hall sentenced Benedict to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 15 years on each of the two counts of rape to run concurrently for a total of 30 years to be served in prison before his first appearance before a parole board. On the other 82 counts, some were run concurrently for a total of an additional 31 years in prison.

Benedict will receive 978 days of jail time credit. Hall ordered Benedict to be immediately transported to the Lorain Correctional Facility for processing and prison assignment.

Benedict declined to comment.

Cleveland Attorney Mark McMann, who will be representing Benedict on appeal, was also present at the sentencing.

After the verdict, Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall spoke exclusively to Crawford County Now’s News Director Randy Bigley:

“Well Randy, on behalf of the victim, all the victims in the photos and videos, on behalf of all the law enforcement who worked so hard on this case, including the Galion Police Department, the Crawford County Sheriff’s department and the Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force as well as my staff and Assistant Ryan Hoovler, I’d say we are very pleased with the outcome of this case.

The end result is that (regardless of the various numbers spoken in court) Mr. Benedict will be serving 71 years in prison before he is eligible for parole. We believe justice has been served. It’s a horrific situation and cannot be tolerated.

We hope this can be served as notice that anyone else who is thinking about doing something like this will understand this will not be tolerated in Crawford County, and this is what happens if you do.” Crall said.