15 to life in prison for Hillsboro man in rape case

A Hillsboro man was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison on Wednesday in Highland County Common Pleas Court after pleading guilty to rape.

Walter Franklin Everhart, 48, was indicted in May on two counts of rape and two counts of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony, following an investigation into reports of rape and misconduct on the part of Everhart between Jan. 15, 2010 and continuing through June 1, 2012, according to a bill of particulars filed in the case.

According to the bill, Everhart’s victim reported that he raped and sexually abused her on multiple occasions, beginning when she was seven years old.

After Everhart was arrested, he appeared in Hillsboro Municipal Court, where an affidavit filed April 3 of this year stated that the victim, who is now a teenager, disclosed the abuse during a visit to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in February.

The abuse allegedly occurred at a residence in the Rocky Fork Lake region in Paint Township.

The affidavit stated that Everhart initially denied the accusations, but during an April 3 polygraph test administered by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, he “confessed to the accusations during the interview process.”

Everhart was represented by Hillsboro attorney Bill Armintrout.

Also Wednesday, a man who pled guilty to charges of breaking and entering and theft of a motor vehicle was sentenced to 21 months in prison for his crimes.

Michael David Williams, 28, Mowrystown, was arrested in July on a warrant for his arrest in connection with a burglary at Larry’s Party Shop and the theft of a vehicle in the area in the early hours of June 27.

In addition to his prison sentence, Williams was ordered to pay $500 in restitution to Larry’s Party Shop and $225 to another victim.

Reach David Wright at 937-402-2570, or on Twitter @DavidWrighter.

Everhart
http://www.timesgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2017/09/web1_waltereverhart1-1.jpgEverhart
Abuse occurred over two-year period in Rocky Fork area

By David Wright

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