BATAVIA, Ohio — Joseph Addison received two sentences of life in prison without parole Monday for raping a girl under 10.
Victims should "stand up for what's right, even if you're standing alone," the young girl said May 14 after the man who sexually abused her as a young child was convicted on seven of 11 charges, including four counts of rape and three counts of gross sexual imposition.
"I feel a whole lot stronger," said the victim, now 12. "I finally got people to hear my voice, to hear my side of it."
Police previously said the crimes occurred between 2013 and 2017. Jurors deliberated for about six hours before returning the verdict.
Addison was also accused of attempting to hire a fellow inmate to kill the girl and other witnesses. The prosecutor said the state may dismiss those charges because of Addison's life sentences.
Last year, authorities said Addison attempted to hire another inmate to kill the girl, who was 11 years old at the time. He also wanted the inmate to kill the girl's guardian and three other witnesses, Clermont County Sheriff Steve Leahy said then.
A grand jury indicted Addison on one count of conspiracy to commit murder and five counts of attempted aggravated murder after the inmate told corrections officers that Addison had approached him about the murder-for-hire plan, authorities said.
"He's finally gone," the victim said. "I don't have to worry. I can be happy."
A trial date in the second case has not yet been scheduled.
