Child rapist gets life in prison

Only after 15 years in prison will a Palmyra Township man be eligible for parole after admitting he raped and molested a girl under the age of 13.

Ruben A. Pedraza, 35, formerly of Whippoorwill Road, was sentenced this week to life in prison with parole eligibility after 15 years by Portage County Common Pleas Judge Becky Doherty.

Pedraza pleaded guilty to rape, a first-degree felony, and gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony, in June. Because the victim was under the age of 13 at the time of the rape, he was eligible for a life term in prison with parole eligibility

Doherty ordered a fiveyear prison term for gross sexual imposition to run consecutive to the rape sentence, extending to 15 years the amount of time Pedraza must wait before his first parole hearing.

She credited Pedraza with 113 days already served in the Portage County jail awaiting trial and sentencing. Labeled a Tier III sex offender — the most severe designation — Pedraza will be required to register his address in person every 90 days for the rest of his life with his local sheriff ’s office.

Following a Portage County Sheriff’s Office investigation, Pedraza was indicted in March on 25 felony sexual assault charges, including 15 counts of rape, and five counts each of sexual battery and gross sexual imposition. The prosecution was handled by Assistant Portage County Prosecutor Steve Michniak.

The assaults took place between January 2014 and March 2018, when the victim was between the ages of 10 and 14, according to court records.

The remaining charges were dismissed at the time of Pedraza’s guilty plea, according to court records.