MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office secured a conviction against a child rapist, resulting in a life sentence without the possibility of parole for at least 50 years. Michael Stith, 51, formerly of Centerville Green Camp Road in Prospect, was sentenced after being found guilty of multiple counts of rape.
Stith faced prosecution for raping several children over nearly three decades. In late September, he entered a no contest plea to five counts of rape, and Marion County Common Pleas Judge Matthew Frericks subsequently found him guilty on all charges.
The charges included three counts of rape involving a victim under the age of 13 in 1997 and 1998, along with two additional counts related to incidents in 2013.
“This is one of the worst rape cases I have prosecuted. “Stith preyed on multiple boys for nearly 30 years. He should die in prison. If he reaches the age for parole consideration, we will be there to fight it.” Marion Prosecutor Ray Grogan said.
During the sentencing hearing, one of the victims delivered a poignant 30-minute impact statement, calling Stith a “monster” and expressing his hope that Stith would live in fear for the remainder of his life. He recounted the shame he felt and the difficulty of recounting such intimate details of his trauma in a courtroom.
“Child rape victims often remain silent or deny the abuse due to the profound shame they experience,” Grogan explained. “However, we have the means to prove these cases, and justice ultimately prevails.”
Judge Frericks highlighted the severity of Stith’s actions, voicing concerns that other victims may still be out there.
He noted that Stith abused his position as a youth leader at his church to gain the trust of young boys and their families, facilitating his criminal behavior.
Prosecutor Grogan extended gratitude to the various agencies that contributed to the successful outcome of this case, including the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Marion Police Department, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Special thanks were offered to detectives involved in the investigation for their tireless efforts in uncovering the truth.
“These agencies dedicated years to helping us achieve justice for the victims who bore this burden for far too long,” Grogan concluded.