A 76-year-old Delaware man will spend the rest of his life in prison after a local jury convicted him of rape and related sex offenses, prosecutors said Tuesday. John "Joel" Schaefer was found guilty after a four day trial and received a life sentence without the possibility of parole on the rape conviction.
Guilty verdict on multiple counts
According to a press release from the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office republished by Delaware Source, jurors convicted Schaefer of one count of first degree rape, two counts of gross sexual imposition, one count of tampering with evidence and a misdemeanor count of making or causing a false report of child abuse or neglect. Prosecutors said the charges grew out of disclosures that were reported in 2013, 2015, and 2022.
Trial and sentencing
The four day jury trial ran from May 12 through May 15 in Delaware County Common Pleas Court, according to the county's public Subpoena Status calendar, which lists Schaefer's case, 24CR-I-01-0009, on those dates. Visiting Judge Richard Frye sentenced Schaefer to life without parole on the rape charge and ordered additional consecutive prison terms, including five years and 18 months for the gross sexual imposition counts, 24 months for tampering with evidence and 180 days for the false report misdemeanor, as reported by The Columbus Dispatch.
“Because of their bravery, a sexual predator was taken off the streets of our community,” Prosecutor Melissa Schiffel said in the office’s statement. The press release republished by Delaware Source notes that the case was investigated by the Delaware City Police Department and prosecuted by Schiffel along with Chief Assistant Mark Sleeper and Assistant Prosecutor Ashlee Beougher.
Legal note
Prosecutors said Schaefer must register as a Tier III sex offender. Under Ohio law, Tier III registrants face lifetime registration and in-person verification every 90 days. The rules governing periodic verification and registration duties are set out in the Ohio Revised Code §2950.06.
Schaefer remains in custody following the sentence. Court records list the matter under file number 24CR-I-01-0009 for anyone seeking official filings or docket activity.
