After an elderly woman accused him of raping her in April, 52 year-old Larry Mitchell was sentenced to two years in prison on two counts of sexual battery Monday morning. 

During a plea hearing last month, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Litle said Mitchell had been staying in his ex-wife’s basement when he picked the lock to her door and sexually assaulted her in the bedroom the night of April 4. 

Then again on April 5, Litle said Mitchell attempted to assault her again just before midnight, but the woman was able to hear him and escaped to a neighbor’s house where she reported the assaults. 

When questioned by Muskingum County Sheriff’s deputies, Mitchell claimed he was in a romantic relationship with the victim and had sex with her all the time. However, Litle disputed Mitchell’s statement and said the pair hadn’t been sexually involved since their marriage in the 90’s. 

According to Litle, the victim allowed Mitchell to stay with her when he needed a place to stay, but that was the extent of their relationship.

Mitchell was originally indicted on four first-degree felony counts of rape and a fourth-degree felony count of gross sexual imposition. 

He pleaded guilty to two lesser charges of sexual battery in June, both felonies of the third-degree. 

As a result of his conviction, Mitchell will have to register as a Tier III sex offender.