TROY -- A Piqua man convicted of raping a developmentally disabled woman was ordered to prison Wednesday for eight years.
The sentence for Harry Reedy, 58, was part of a plea deal and joint sentencing recommendation accepted by Miami County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Gee. Reedy in August pleaded guilty to rape and gross sexual imposition. He made no comment before sentencing.
“This agreement has been discussed at length with the parents of the victim. They have a good understanding of where we are at,” county Prosecutor Tony Kendell said.
The victim, a Tipp City woman in her early 30s, said she is scared now that someone will get into the family’s house and cause harm. “She doesn’t want you (Reedy) to mess up anybody’s life like you did hers,” the woman’s mother said in helping her complete her remarks.
The mother also told the judge her daughter doesn’t understand what happened, doesn’t sleep at night and “is never going to be the same.”
Her father said he hopes Reedy’s fellow inmates learn the nature of his crime. “I hope you wake up every day and feel nothing but hopelessness,” he said.
Police said the mother reported her daughter was picked up at her home by friends the evening of June 27, 2014, and returned the following morning. The mother said the behavior was not normal for her daughter, who subsequently told police she had been tied to the bed, handcuffed and raped while her legs were held.
Gee said Reedy had been in prison multiple times and that the victim suffered serious psychological harm.
“This case, as I have become more familiar as it has gone through the system, demonstrates the limits of the criminal justice system when a victim of crime suffers from developmental disabilities,” Gee said. He noted several witnesses in the case also had developmental disabilities and that the plea bargain was a compromise to avoid the risks of a trial.
In this case, the compromise made sense, Gee said. He followed the recommended sentence, ordering Reedy to serve concurrent terms of eight years for rape and 18 months for gross sexual imposition. Reedy was given credit for 196 days served in jail.
He was classified a Tier III sex offender, requiring him to register his address with the sheriff following prison release every 90 days for the rest of his life.
Also charged in connection with the rape was Patrick Anthony, 57, of Piqua. He pleaded guilty Tuesday to felony kidnapping, complicity to rape and intimidation of a witness. He will be sentenced in December.
EARLIER (Aug. 25): Harry Reedy, the Piqua resident charged along with two other people in a June 2014 rape of a special needs woman in Troy, has pleaded guilty to two felony charges.
Reedy pleaded guilty today in Miami County Common Pleas Court to single felony counts of rape and gross sexual imposition, amended from a rape charge. A kidnapping charge was dismissed.
Trial for Reedy was to begin Thursday before Judge Christopher Gee, who accepted Reedy’s pleas and found him guilty. A presentence investigation was ordered. Sentencing is set for Oct. 13.
Gee, at competency hearings this month for the victim and two potential witnesses, decided the witnesses were competent for trial but that the victim was not.
Patrick Anthony, 57, also of Piqua, is charged with kidnapping and complicity to rape in the same case. His case is pending before Gee. A third defendant, Trishica Leighly, 37, has not been indicted but recently was charged with intimidation of a witness in the case.
Credit: kimmargolis
Credit: kimmargolis
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