Defendant will serve 31 years to life for rape

By Peter H. Milliken

The victim was a relative between ages 12 and 15.

YOUNGSTOWN — A Diamond man who was convicted of four counts of rape and four counts of gross sexual imposition against a young female relative has been sentenced to 31 years to life in prison.

Michael Skidmore, 36, of Wayland Road, drew the sentence Wednesday from Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for the offenses he committed against the girl between 2002 and 2006 when she was between ages 12 and 15.

After deliberating for almost six hours at the end of a four-day trial last month, a jury convicted Skidmore of those charges, but it acquitted him of two rape counts and two gross sexual imposition counts pertaining to the time when the girl was 10 and 11.

Judge Sweeney imposed a mandatory life prison term for the rape that occurred when the girl was 12. That sentence carries parole eligibility after 10 years.

The judge imposed three consecutive seven-year prison terms on the other rape counts to be served after the 10 years-to-life term for the first rape. Sentences for the gross sexual impositions will be concurrent with the time to be served for the rapes, the judge said.

Dawn Cantalamessa, assistant county prosecutor, asked Judge Sweeney to impose maximum consecutive sentences totaling 491‚Ñ2 years to life in prison, but said after court that she was satisfied with the sentences the judge imposed.

“I like to send a message out to all child molesters that it won’t be tolerated,” Cantalamessa said, explaining her request for maximum consecutive prison terms.

Skidmore’s lawyer, Ronald Yarwood, asked for minimum concurrent sentences, saying his client maintains his innocence, has no prior criminal record, and was honorably discharged from the Army. Yarwood said after court that an appeal will be filed.

Skidmore did not address the judge.

“I just hope he realizes what he’s done, and how much he’s hurt me, and how much I feel that I’ve been betrayed by him,” the victim said before Judge Sweeney imposed the sentences.

Skidmore’s mother, Joanne Skidmore, said her son is innocent of all the charges and doesn’t deserve to go to prison. “He’s grown up to be a wonderful person and a wonderful father,” she said.

As a sexual offender, Skidmore will have to register his whereabouts with the sheriff quarterly for life after he leaves prison.

milliken@vindy.com