LEBANON, Ohio — A Warren County judge sentenced a Franklin man Thursday to life in prison for raping two young girls.
Eric Ruggles, 40, sexually assaulted the girls between 2003 and '12, and they ranged in age from 4 to 12, according to Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell.
One of the victims reported the abuse to a parent, who then contacted law enforcement, Fornshell said.
"I'm so proud of those two girls for their courage in standing up to their abuser," Fornshell said.
A jury found Ruggles guilty last month of rape of a child under 13, rape of a child under 10, rape involving impaired mental conditions for providing alcohol to one of the victims, six counts of gross sexual imposition and two counts of sexual battery.
Judge Robert Peeler handed down the sentence Thursday. Ruggles was also designated a Tier III sex offender. He will be eligible for parole after 20 years.
