A man from Ohio pled guilty on Tuesday to one count of child rape, according to The Associated Press. The man, Jason Zwick, issued the plea in Miami County, prior to a jury selection was scheduled to start. Common Pleas Judge Christopher Gee pronounced Zwick guilty and then sentenced him to 10 years to life in prison. Zwick pled guilty in the case, which involved raping the adopted son of a man who previously admitted raping three boys in his care.
Two other charges against Zwick were dropped by prosecutors. Those charges said that Zwick raped a 10-year-old adopted son of a man from Troy who pled guilty to raping three boys. Zwick is from the Dayton suburb of Beavercreek and he reportedly went to the adoptive dad’s home to rape the boy after the two men talked online.
The adoptive dad, 40, is going to serve 60 years to life in prison as part of his plea agreement. He was supposed to testify in court against Zwick, along with the boy, who is now 11. Joe Stadnicar, the attorney for Zwick, tried to delay the trial due to possible witness tampering. He did not offer a comment after the plea on Tuesday.
By pleading out, Zwick does not contest the charge entered against him, without admitting guilt. An assistant county prosecutor, Anthony Kendall, said that prosecutors believe that Zwick will appeal.
Zwick has also been sentenced to pay a fine of $20,000 and ordered to regularly report where he is as a sex offender to law enforcement officers if he is ever released from prison. He will not be permitted to live near a daycare or a school.
“This is the most despicable thing I’ve ever seen,” Kendall said after the plea hearing. “This is a guy out shopping for minors … to have sex with. We got him off the street.”
On Monday, the attorney for Zwick tried to delay the trial, claiming witness tampering. The attorney claimed that the mother of the adoptive father took photos or video of Zwick during a visit to the jail. The reason for this was so the witnesses could identify Zwick in court. To protect the identities of the children, the adoptive father is not being identified.
The adoptive father, from Troy, has been a foster father for a long time. He has two adopted boys and a girl and was working on adopting a fourth child when he was arrested in February of 2012. The adoptive father pled guilty in Montgomery County to child rape and complicity to rape.