Rondell Harris stands before Judge Anthony D’Apolito in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for sentencing on Monday, as security stood nearby. Seated is Attorney Greg Meyers of the Ohio Public Defender’s Office. Harris received 26 -to 31 1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty to raping a female Mahoning County corrections officer in 2022. Staff photo / Chris McBride

YOUNGSTOWN — An East Cleveland man went on several profanity-laced tirades during sentencing Monday, which saw him get 26 to 31 1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty to raping a female Mahoning County corrections officer in 2022.

At the time of the attack, on May 5, 2022, Rondell Harris, 34, was being held in the Mahoning County jail on charges related to an incident that occurred while he was incarcerated previously at the Ohio State Penitentiary. Harris pulled the deputy into a cell and then assaulted, strangled and raped her.

The case was investigated by the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

“Even behind bars, a predator remains a predator,” Attorney General Dave Yost said. “This case exemplifies the dangers that deputies face every day to keep our communities safe.”

An attempt was made by Harris just before the court hearing began to fire his defense attorney, but that plan was abandoned after Mahoning County Common Pleas Judge Anthony D’Apolito advised the defendant that he’d have to represent himself.

Harris was named in a Mahoning County grand jury 12-count indictment for rape, kidnapping, felonious assault and several other charges.

VICTIM IMPACT

The courtroom was filled with family, along with several members of law enforcement. Some were former co-workers of the victim who came to court in support.

Harris sat often looking at the ceiling as the victim shared an impact statement with the courtroom.

The former corrections officer had a 13-year career in law enforcement that she said was stolen from her after Harris’ crimes against her.

“The person that I was before was murdered while I was being strangled and raped and is dead forever,” the woman said. “The new me has a very hard time finding my courage, confidence, assertiveness and fearlessness.”

During the attack, she sustained injuries to her hip that she said will never completely recover.

For six months she recalled going through physical therapy and a surgery that left her unable to walk, confining her to a wheelchair for an extended period.

She ended her statement expressing concern over the potential for Harris to be released from prison in the future.

“I’m concerned when he finishes his time I will be a 69-year-old lady or older and I won’t have a mother, father to protect me,” the victim said.

INTERRUPTIONS

Harris interrupted during the speech, calling the victim’s statement a “sob story” while asserting he is innocent.

A set of officers escorted Harris out of the courtroom while D’Apolito contemplated placing a gag on Harris during the brief interruption.

Instead, the court proceeded with another statement by the victim’s stepfather while Harris was out of the room.

He said the emotional trauma for his daughter is going to last a “long time, longer than any sentence to be handed out.”

He asked the courtroom to sentence Harris to an amount of time that prevents him from harming anyone else in the future.

Afterward, Harris was allowed back into the courtroom where he continued to be defiant. He went on another rant where he questioned evidence and again disputed the victim’s claims.

“Ya’ll just put me in a situation where I have to cause more harm to survive my environment,” Harris said, with the implication he would cause more harm to others while incarcerated.

Addressing Harris directly during the hearing, D’Apolito said: “You have not broken her, you’ve damaged her. But she’s stronger than that, and she will come back and you’ll be in prison for 26 years.”

D’Apolito’s ruling also states that Harris will be classified as a tier-3 sex offender, which requires him to register every 90 days for the rest of his life.

Earlier, Harris had two charges added to a previous offense for throwing a bottle of his urine on a corrections officer at the Ohio State Penitentiary on Coitsville-Hubbard Road, when he was incarcerated there on a one-year sentence out of Portage County Common Pleas Court for carrying a concealed weapon.

He pleaded guilty in December 2022 in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to disrupting public services, and D’Apolito sentenced Harris to 19 months in prison for that offense.