MANSFIELD - Mark Ramsey made what a judge called a "business decision."
Ramsey, 35, of Shelby, entered an Alford plea on Thursday to rape, sexual battery and two counts of gross sexual imposition.
An Alford plea refers to a case in which the defendant pleads guilty but does not admit to the criminal act and asserts his innocence.
As part of the plea agreement, Ramsey will serve a flat 15-year prison sentence. He pleaded to four counts, one for each juvenile victim. Prosecutors previously said the abuse occurred over an eight-year period.
"I was very diligent in getting expert people that would give Mark the best chance in the case," defense attorney Bernie Davis said. "What concerned us is a number of the charges carried life sentences."
Teri Burnside, Richland County assistant prosecutor, said the victims and parents were on board with the plea.
The case has been pending for over a year in Richland County Common Pleas Court.
"Everybody involved is very happy with it," Burnside said of the agreement. "It was a very long process, and this is where we landed."
In exchange for Ramsey's plea, the state dismissed nine other sex-related cases, including three counts of rape.
"It resolves the case and doesn't put those children through what would be a real nasty trial," Davis said.
Common Pleas Judge Brent Robinson did not fine Ramsey and declared him a Tier III sex offender, meaning he will have to register with the county sheriff wherever he lives every 90 days for the rest of his life.
Ramsey told the judge he likely would live with his brother in Richland County. He declined to address the court.
The judge also gave Ramsey credit for time served while the case was pending.
None of the victims attended Thursday's hearing, though two of them wrote victim impact statements.
Victim advocate Jamie Akers read the letters in court. The first was from one of the juvenile victims.
"You hurt me so bad, and I hate you for it," the girl wrote. "I fake a smile every day because of you. I'm never going to be happy again."
The girl wrote that Ramsey made her feel that she wasn't good enough. She wished he could serve longer than 15 years.
Akers also read a letter from the mother of the four girls. She said she felt a combination of anger, fury and hurt.
"You better be glad I care more for my children than life itself, or you wouldn't have gotten a measly 15 years," she wrote.
The woman said one of the girls no longer trusts anyone and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. She added the girl is self-medicating.
Another girl, the mother said, has been cutting herself and is "covered in scars."
Another victim suffers from night terrors and can't be home by herself.
The mother said she is very protective of the girls, not even allowing them to walk to school.
"I hope you are miserable the entire time (in prison). I also hope karma gets you," she wrote. "I pray you stay healthy because death would be too easy."
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
Twitter: @MNJCaudill
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Shelby man gets 15-year prison sentence for sex case involving 4 juveniles - Mansfield News Journal
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