Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 11, 2024
Appeals Court Upholds Zanesville Rapist’s Conviction
A state appeals court affirmed a Zanesville man’s conviction.
On October 8, judges on the Ohio Fifth District Court of Appeals upheld the conviction of Keith D. Hostottle, Jr., 34, of Zanesville.
In February, Hostottle was found guilty of two counts of gross sexual imposition, kidnapping, kidnapping with sexual motivation, and three counts of rape by a Common Pleas Court jury.
He was sentenced to life in prison, with eligibility for parole after 26 years.
In 2021, the victim disclosed that Hostottle had repeatedly sexually assaulted her over several years.
Hostottle appealed the conviction. He claimed there was not enough evidence to prove he had committed the crimes. He also claimed one of the witnesses was not credible because her testimony was inconsistent.
The judges reviewed the trial’s record and found that the conviction was supported by sufficient evidence.
Muskingum County Prosecuting Attorney Ron Welch says the office’s assistant prosecutor, Joe Palmer, gave the court the information needed to reach the appropriate decision.
“Assistant Prosecutor Joe Palmer did a great job arguing this case before the Court of Appeals,” Prosecutor Welch said. “He provided the court with clear and simple arguments explaining why the conviction occurred and why it should remain.
“The Court was able to apply the information it was provided to this case and reach the correct decision,” Prosecutor Welch said. “This case is more than just a win for our office but a win for our community and sexual assault victims everywhere.”
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