HUBBARD, OH – The former mayor of an Ohio town faces dozens of charges for allegedly raping a 4-year-old girl,the Youngstown Vindicator reports.
Richard Keenan, former Hubbard mayor from 2010 to 2011, was indicted on eight counts of rape and 12 counts of attempted rape and gross sexual imposition.
Keenan was booked into the Trumbull County Jail and released on $75,000 bond.
According to court documents, the victim told Keenan’s wife about the sexual abuse that began when she was 4-years-old and lasted for three years.
When Keenan’s wife confronted him about the allegations, he responded, “I did it.”
Keenan also confessed to the allegations to his pastor, a social worker and his brother and sister-in-law, according to documents filed by the assistant prosecutor.
Keenan admitted himself into a psychiatric facility after the admissions because he said he was feeling suicidal.
Filings obtained by the Youngstown Vindicator go into extensive detail about his purported admissions during group discussions at the psychiatric ward. He allegedly said he blamed the victim for initiating the acts and said she was a “willing participant.”
Prosecutors are asking a judge to determine if his admissions are allowable as evidence in his trial or if they are privileged.
