by Kristin Casale
Associate Editor
Stow -- A Stow man involved in a six-hour standoff with police last October will serve 16 years in prison for that offense and two felony counts of rape.
According to Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh's office, 45-year-old Stow resident Robert Murphy was sentenced by Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas Teodosio to 16 years in prison May 2.
Murphy's attorney, Jonathan Sinn, did not return calls for comment by press time.
Murphy received two consecutive eight-year sentences for each count of rape, first-degree felonies, and six months for one count of inducing panic, a misdemeanor, according to Walsh's office.
The six-month sentence will run concurrently.
Murphy pleaded guilty to the offenses April 1.
According to Bevan Walsh's office, Teodosio has classified Murphy as a Tier III sex offender, which means he is required to register his address with the Summit County Sheriff's Office on a regular basis for the rest of his life.
According to Stow Police Chief Louis Dirker, Murphy was accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. The incident took place when the girl spent the night at Murphy's apartment, where he lived with the boyfriend of the girl's mother, according to Walsh's office.
"Murphy's roommate confronted Murphy after the girl told her mother about the rape," Bevan Walsh wrote in a May 2 press release. "The police and Metro SWAT were called [Oct. 29], and Murphy barricaded himself into his apartment and would not let police enter. He was armed with a BB gun."
Murphy surrendered to Stow Police after the six-hour standoff ended peacefully.
According to Bevan Walsh's office, after local media outlets, including the Stow Sentry, reported the standoff, a second 15-year-old girl told police Murphy raped her.
E-mail: kcasale@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3917