A Madison County judge has sent a West Jefferson man away for what could amount to the rest of his life, after a jury convicted him on a series of rape charges. At the same time, authorities in Southern California say the same man is now accused of killing two people found dead in a Chula Vista apartment last year, turning a local sex-crime case into a cross-country homicide investigation.
Madison County Sentence
Steven Cleveland, 43, was convicted on four counts of rape and sentenced to a minimum of 64 years and a maximum of 69.5 years in prison. Court records say that if he is ever released, he will have to register as a Tier 3 sex offender, according to WSYX/ABC6.
Charged in Chula Vista Slayings
On the West Coast, San Diego-area investigators have charged Cleveland in the deaths of 57-year-old Abdul Hasan and 71-year-old Paz Gojar, who were found dead inside their Eastlake apartment on February 21, 2025. Autopsies determined both victims had been fatally stabbed, and detectives say Cleveland stabbed Hasan and Gojar on January 29 before fleeing the area, according to KGTV/10News.
Court Records and Travel History
Madison County court documents state that Cleveland left the West Jefferson area after he was notified about the rape allegations on December 20, 2024. A transcript in the file quotes him describing a winding route that took him through New Mexico, Illinois, South Carolina, Florida and Tijuana before his arrest. He was taken into custody in Knoxville, Tennessee, on April 3, 2025, and was indicted by a grand jury soon afterward. West Jefferson Police Chief Brandon Smith told reporters, "We commend the exceptional work of our Detectives," according to WSYX/ABC6.
Custody and What Comes Next
Cleveland remains locked up at the Tri-County Regional Jail in Mechanicsburg, Ohio, awaiting possible extradition to San Diego County, where prosecutors have filed murder and related charges, according to KGTV/10News. Chula Vista police say the case has been submitted to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office and that investigators are still coordinating with law enforcement in Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Legal Implications
Under Ohio law, Cleveland's sentence ensures he will remain in prison for many years. If California secures his extradition, he will face a separate murder prosecution there that could bring additional penalties. The Ohio and California cases are moving forward on different tracks and will be handled by different prosecutors and courts.
Prosecutors in both states will decide their next moves as Cleveland's attorneys file post-trial motions in Ohio and San Diego authorities work through the extradition process and formal charging timelines.
