Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Man Prosecuted for Sexual Abuse Convicted on All 23 Charges
ZANESVILLE, OH –
This week a Muskingum County Jury convened to hear the case of Raymond West, 56, of Zanesville, Ohio.
Jurors were presented with twenty-three (23) separate charges, during the span of the three-day trial, that stem from West sexually abusing minor victims. At the conclusion of the trial on March 12, 2026, the Jury spent approximately three (3) hours deliberating before returning guilty verdicts for all twenty-three charges.
The charges that West were found guilty of include multiple counts of Gross Sexual Imposition, Rape, Attempted Rape, Kidnapping, Child Endangering, and Intimidation of a Witness, all felonies.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Michael Hughes, who led the case, called nine witnesses to testify in the trial. Several of which included medical professionals from child advocacy centers Brave Beginnings and Harmony House.
Due to certain circumstances, this case represented a rare opportunity to prosecute the charges without having to have the victims testify.
West faces more than 65 years in prison on rape charges alone.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, or you suspect abuse may be occurring, do not delay reporting it. In many child sexual abuse cases, offenders use intimidation and threats to keep victims silent. This manipulation can make it extremely difficult for children to come forward on their own, which is why reporting suspected abuse is so important.
###
Follow the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office on Facebook for the most current and complete information.
