MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—The Third District Court of Appeals has unanimously upheld the convictions of Rakeem Ramere Ginyard, who was sentenced to six consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for at least 60 years.
The ruling comes after Ginyard attempted to appeal his conviction for the repeated rape of a 10-year-old girl.
Marion County Prosecutor Ray Grogan and his team successfully secured Ginyard’s conviction during a jury trial last year, where evidence revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse that took place from late 2021 to 2022 at a residence in Marion. Ginyard, who divided his time between Philadelphia and Columbus, exploited his familial ties to the victim, often staying at her home and committing calculated assaults over several weekends.
The case was built on compelling forensic evidence and the courageous testimony of the young survivor, which highlighted the extent of Ginyard’s heinous actions and shocked the community.
“Ginyard attempted to evade justice by filing a meritless appeal,” Grogan stated. “However, my team firmly opposed his efforts, and we successfully had the appeal denied.”
Grogan expressed gratitude to Assistant Prosecutor Allison Kessler for her role in handling the appeal and commended the victim for her bravery in reporting the crimes, which played a crucial role in securing Ginyard’s conviction. He also acknowledged the exceptional work of the team at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, for their contributions to the case.
“I take sex offenses—especially those against children—very seriously, and my team and I will never relent in pursuing justice for victims of such heinous acts,” Grogan concluded.