Zanesville man's life sentence upheld after appeal of rape, kidnapping convictions

ZANESVILLE − 34-year-old Keith D. Hostottle Jr. of Zanesville had his life sentence upheld in a recent appeal ruling by the Ohio Fifth District Court of Appeals in Canton.

In February 2024, Hostottle was found guilty of two counts of gross sexual imposition, third-degree felonies; one count of kidnapping and three counts of rape, all first-degree felonies, by a Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas jury.

Hostottle was under investigation after a minor female victim came forward in 2021, stating a man had sexually assaulted her many times over several years. Hostottle was given a life sentence with parole eligibility after 26 years after initially entering a not guilty plea in September 2023, according to a new release for the Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office.

Hostotle appealed the ruling, claiming that there was not enough evidence to prove he had committed the crimes, according to the release. He also claimed one of the witnesses was not credible because her testimony was inconsistent.

Court of Appeals judges reviewed the trial's record and found that the conviction was supported by sufficient evidence, the release added.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Zanesville man's life sentence upheld after appeal of rape, kidnapping convictions