KEY POINTS
- Keith D. McKinney, 26, pleaded not guilty to 100 counts of rape lodged against him
- The Ironton resident allegedly raped someone that was younger than 13 years old
- The allleged abuse happened from March 1, 2020 to April 25 of this year
A 26-year-old man in Lawrence County, Ohio pleaded not guilty last week to 100 counts of rape charged against him.
Keith D. McKinney, of Ironton, was indicted by the Lawrence County Grand Jury on June 1, local newspaper the Ironton Tribune reported.
According to the indictment, McKinney "did by force, engage in sexual conduct" with the victim that was less than 13 years old from March 1, 2020 continuing through April 25 of this year.
All the counts against McKinney are first-degree felonies, with the penalty for first-degree rape being three to 10 years in prison per count if convicted in court.
According to Prosecuting Attorney Brigham Anderson, the reason for the 100 counts was because they included 100 separate instances of alleged rape, a report by The Herald-Dispatch said.
Judge Christen Finley of the Lawrence County Common Pleas Court set McKinney's bail at $500,000 after he pleaded not guilty to all the charges on June 2. McKinney was also ordered to stay away from the teenage victim, additionally saying that he will be ordered to be placed in home confinement and to wear an ankle monitor should he make bond.
Gene Meadows, a Scioto County lawyer appointed to represent McKinney, asked his client to be evaluated to determine if he is competent to stand trial.
McKinney waived his right to a speedy trial until Nov. 1, as per The Ironton Tribune.
He remained under the custody of the Lawrence County Jail as of Monday and is being held at the Monroe County Correctional Facility.
A 28-year-old man in Claiborne County, Tennessee, who faced a similar number of charges as McKinney, pleaded guilty last week to raping his biological half-sister.
Dominique Rashad Justice, of Harrogate, pleaded guilty last Friday to a total of 96 sex-related charges, including 28 counts of the rape of a child, 48 counts of incest and 20 counts of aggravated statutory rape. He was arrested and charged in 2019 for the crimes, which appeared to have been committed over many years.
Claiborne Judge Shayne Sexton accepted Justice's plea agreement and dropped only one of the initial 97 counts filed against him. She also agreed to Justice's request of being given a psychological evaluation before his sentencing.
Justice denied alternative sentencing and stipulated that it will carry 100 percent service and require supervision for life.
He is scheduled to appear before court again on Aug. 9 for a status hearing.
Representation. Keith D. McKinney, 26, pleaded not guilty to 100 counts of rape filed against him. Photo: Pixabay
