NEWS

Man sentenced to prison for rape of child’s mother

Bethany Bruner
Reporter

NEWARK – A Reynoldsburg man was sentenced to prison Friday after admitting to raping the mother of his child.

Justus J. Trivanovich, 21, last known address 219 Norman Lane, entered a guilty plea to one count of rape, a first-degree felony, via a bill of information.

The bill of information bypasses the grand jury process, which could have resulted in additional charges being filed against Trivanovich.

Assistant Licking County Prosecutor Brian Waltz said on June 7, Trivanovich was visiting his child at a Thornville residence and forced the child’s mother, who was under the age of 18, to engage in sexual activity.

Waltz said the victim fought back against Trivanovich.

Detectives with the Licking County Sheriff’s Office conducted a controlled call with the victim and Trivanovich where he reportedly acknowledged what he did to the victim was rape, Waltz said.

Trivanovich could have faced additional charges for impregnating the teenager while she was underage, as well as charges for escape for fleeing from police officers on foot after being handcuffed.

Daniel Sabol, Trivanovich’s attorney, said Trivanovich has taken steps while in jail to find ways to better his life, including inquiring about higher education opportunities he may have in prison.

Sabol said the victim had reached out to him and asked for no punishment for Trivanovich and wavered in the story she told police.

Trivanovich said he took responsibility for his actions and was prepared to go to prison.

Waltz and Sabol jointly recommended a seven-year prison sentence to Judge Thomas Marcelain.

The rape charge carried a mandatory prison sentence of between three and 11 years.

Several of Trivanovich’s relatives spoke to Marcelain in his defense, calling him a “decent boy” and they have seen growth in him.

Marcelain said Trivanovich admitted to rape by force, one of the most serious crimes he could think of short of murder, and was on probation at the time of the crime.

He imposed the seven-year sentence and ordered Trivanovich to pay all court costs and fees and serve five years of post-release control after he is released from prison.

Trivanovich will be required to register as a Tier III sexual offender every 90 days for the rest of his life.