Staff photo / Dan Pompili Chad Scofinsky, left, stands with his attorney, Ron Yarwood, on Tuesday in the courtroom of Mahoning County Common Pleas Judge John M. Durkin. Scofinsky, who pleaded guilty in April to one count of rape involving a child under 13, was sentenced Tuesday to six to nine years in prison as part of a plea agreement that saw the state dismiss two more severe counts of rape and two counts of gross sexual imposition. Durkin said he went along with the agreement because the victim’s family consented. After his release, Scofinsky will have to register as a sex offender every 90 days for the rest of his life.

YOUNGSTOWN — A man who pleaded guilty to child rape last month was sentenced Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Per the terms of a plea agreement, Chad Scofinsky, 36, of Noel Drive in Youngstown, will spend six to nine years in prison. Scofinsky pleaded guilty April 22 to one count of rape, a first-degree felony, in a case where the victim was under 13. The specific count to which he pleaded carries a mandatory sentence of 11 to 13 years.

Scofinsky was indicted in December 2024 on that charge as well as two more serious rape charges that would have carried mandatory life sentences, and two counts of gross sexual imposition. Those other charges were dropped in exchange for the plea.

Judge John Durkin said during Tuesday’s sentencing hearing that Scofinsky will be released after six years unless the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction determines that his conduct in prison warrants additional time.

After his release, he will be on parole for five years. He also will be labeled a tier-3 sex offender, meaning he will be required to register his address with the sheriff wherever he lives every 90 days for the rest of his life. Durkin also ordered him to have no contact with the victim.

Mahoning County Assistant Prosecutor Kyle Hilles said on Tuesday that the victim’s family was satisfied with the sentence.

“They were much more focused on getting the tier-3 registration status. That’s what was most important to them,” Hilles said.

During Scofinsky’s plea hearing and again on Tuesday, Durkin stated that he knows the plea agreement came after defense attorney Ron Yarwood filed a significant number of motions and that negotiations took a significant amount of time.

Given that the victim and their family were supportive of the agreement, and that Scofinsky has accepted responsibility, the judge said he could stand by it.

A representative for the victim, someone formerly close to Scofinsky, spoke briefly at the hearing.

“Chad and I have been through quite a lot. Where I never saw our life going was landing us here, with where we are and what he’s done,” she said. “I hope that during his sentence and the rest of his life, it sits heavy with him, the damage that he has done, not only to (the victim) but to his whole family that he had.”