Staff photo / Ed Runyan Joseph D Stevens, 45, of Youngstown, left, was sentenced to 6 to 9 years in prison Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court after pleading guilty to a June 2023 rape of an adult. His attorney, at right, is Frank Cassese.

YOUNGSTOWN — Joseph D. Stevens, 45, of Manchester Avenue, was sentenced to 6 to 9 years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty earlier in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to one count of rape.

Stevens entered his guilty plea July 14, 2025, but later requested to rescind the guilty plea. Judge Anthony D’Apolito denied the motion in February. The plea agreement called for Stevens to get 6 to 9 years in prison. The victim, an adult, was in agreement with the plea, prosecutors said.

Stevens’ indictment alleged that he committed three counts of rape and three counts of sexual battery against the victim in June 2023.

The victim gave a statement before sentencing, saying that in 2023, before this incident, she “had my life together. I had a good job” and was “doing very well.”

She said that when she visited Stevens, “my life changed drastically. He offered me a drink.” She said she lived by certain rules, like not drinking and driving. And second, she would only drink “around people I trust.”

She thought there was no reason to fear Stevens, but “obviously, I was wrong. After that night, I experienced physical, mental, emotional and spiritual trauma. I tried to return to the life I had worked so hard for, but I couldn’t do it anymore.

“I had panic attack after panic attack,” she said. “I had to leave the job that I loved, and I had to leave the apartment that I loved.”

She was admitted to the hospital for self-harm.

She said “court battles’ and the declining health of a loved one “drove me to a very dark place. I went across the country to a residential care facility that I could be watched 24 / 7.”

She said she had “no idea why God allowed this to happen, and I was angry at him for a long time. But I am grateful that he has made this victim victorious, and God has turned tragedy into testimony.”

She said she is now “in a good place, and I have hope.” She said she can now see Stevens “as human, and humans make mistakes. I know that going away is a tragedy for (Stevens) and his family. I pray that he is safe while he is away.”

But she said she prays “that I never see you again.”

After the woman had finished her remarks, Judge Anthony D’Apolito said he thinks he has never heard anyone “be more gracious” than the woman in this case, and not have hatred in your heart. That’s a testament to you.”

He said knowing how victims feel “helps me understand a little bit.”

Stevens declined to make a statement before sentencing. Stevens, who worked for the Youngstown Street Department at the time the charges were filed, gets credit for 14 days already spent in the Mahoning County jail toward his sentence.

The crimes were investigated by the Youngstown Police Department.

Assistant Prosecutor Caitlyn Andrews said the agreement in this case was made, in part, to prevent the victim from having to testify.