CIRCLEVILLE, OH – A Pickaway County jury has convicted a Circleville man on multiple sex crime charges following a two-day trial in the Pickaway County Court of Common Pleas.
Mark E. Whaley, 53, of East Mound Street, Circleville, faced four counts of rape, four counts of compelling prostitution, and four counts of gross sexual imposition. The charges stemmed from allegations made by a juvenile victim, who reported the abuse to authorities at her local high school.
In the report, the girl reported that a sexual assault occurred in August and then again the day before she reported it. She had saved several evidence items to prove the rape, she also reported that the man had taken several naked photos of her. She told investigators that he took her to Walmart and bought condoms, this information was confirmed with video evidence.
An investigation was launched and a search warrant was issued for the home and for Whaley’s phone. When he was interviewed Whaley at first tried to blame the teen on the sexual advances, and eventually admitted to the investigators that sex had occurred on multiple occasions.
Jury Deliberation and Verdict
Over the course of the trial, jurors heard testimony from the victim and her mother, as well as Amy Wanken of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Detective Daniel Rubio of the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office. Whaley also testified in his own defense.
After approximately three hours of deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict on:
- One count of rape
- One count of compelling prostitution
- One count of gross sexual imposition
Whaley was found not guilty on the remaining charges.
Next Steps: Sentencing Pending
Judge Matthew H. Chafin presided over the trial, with the State of Ohio represented by Pickaway County Assistant Prosecutor Heather MJ Carter. Whaley was defended by Columbus-based Attorney Lewis T. Dye.
Following the verdict, Whaley was remanded to the Pickaway County Jail and will remain in custody pending a presentencing investigation. His sentencing date will be set in the coming weeks.
