ZANESVILLE — A Zanesville man faces life in prison after he was found guilty Tuesday of raping a child, among other child abuse crimes.
Robert Hearing, 66, was convicted after a day-long bench trial of 10 felonies related to abusing a child under 10 years old.
He was found responsible for photographing a naked child, having sexual contact with the child and digitally penetrating the child.
He waived a jury trial and instead received a verdict from Judge Mark Fleegle. After Fleegle deliberated for around 30 minutes, Hearing was convicted on the following charges:
- Gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony.
- Rape of a child under 10 years old, a first-degree felony.
- Eight counts of pandering obscenity, a second-degree felony.
Four witnesses testified in the case, including a Muskingum County Sheriff's Office detective, a Nationwide Children's Hospital doctor, a sheriff's deputy, and adult member of the victim's house.
Detective Brady Hittle testified that Hearing admitted to taking numerous sexually explicit photos of and touching the child, but not rape during two interviews conducted after the incident.
The deputy said that video found on a home camera partially showed Hearing taking photos of the naked child.
The Nationwide pediatrician testified that the way that the child was touched included penetration. The prosecutor's office said that was crucial to proving the a rape charge instead of the lesser gross sexual imposition charge.
Additionally, the house member was able to identify the defendant and the victim.
Prosecutors said the only possible sentence allowed by law in this case is a life sentence without possibility of parole, due to the victim's age and use of force.
A date for a sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.
