Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Man Sentenced 10 Years in Prison for Rape of Minor
(ZANESVILLE, OH)
On June 15, 2026, Thomas Johnson, 23, appeared before Judge Kelly Cottrill to be sentenced for charges that stem from Johnson raping a disabled minor.
Judge Cottrill sentenced Johnson to 10 years in prison and ordered that he register as a Tier 3 Sex Offender. As a Tier 3 Sex Offender he must register every 90 days with the County Sheriff for the remainder of his life once he is released from prison.
Johnson was known to the victim and abused his position of trust. He violated that trust after building a relationship and pretending to be a safe person.
The crime was reported to the Zanesville Police Department by Muskingum County Children’s Service where Det. Chris Andrews conducted an investigation and assembled the case. The child was seen by Brave Beginnings Child Advocacy Center in Zanesville and prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Michael T. Hughes.
Following the report detectives tracked Johnson down in Tennessee where he was arrested before being brought back to Muskingum County to pay for his crimes.
“Running away from Muskingum County after you commit a crime is not an option because you will be found and brought back to face justice,” said Prosecutor Welch. “Our law enforcement does not give up when tracking down criminals.”
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