Ohio adoptive father gets 60 years to life for rape

TROY, Ohio • An Ohio adoptive father accused of raping three boys in his care was sentenced Monday to 60 years to life in prison.

Miami County Judge Robert Lindeman followed the terms of an earlier plea agreement for the 40-year-old man. He pleaded guilty to six rape counts and agreed to cooperate with authorities.

The man declined to make a statement in court. The Associated Press isn't naming the man to protect the identities of the children, who were ages 9-12.

His attorney Nick Gounaris says he is pleased the judge accepted the plea deal.

Prosecutor Gary Nasal wouldn't comment, citing still pending cases, including the upcoming trial of a man who allegedly raped one of the boys.

The man had been charged with 31 counts of felony rape in Miami County, where he had been caring for the three boys and a girl in his home. Authorities have said the man had adopted all of the children, except for one of the boys, whom he was in the process of adopting.

Miami County prosecutors agreed to drop 25 counts and recommend a sentence of 60 years to life in prison in return for the adoptive father's guilty plea last month to six rape counts. The man could have faced life in prison without the possibility for parole