By Frank Lewis
A Scioto County man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for rape, kidnapping, and having a weapon under disability. Timothy Wayne Lute, 38, was found guilty by a Scioto County Common Pleas Court jury after a six hour deliberation following a three day trial.
During the course of the trial, under questioning by assistant prosecutors Shane Tieman and Jay Willis, witnesses testified that on Dec. 31, 2014, Lute forced his former girlfriend into the woods to kill her, but rather than kill her he raped her and eventually let her go. The victim reportedly called 911 and reported the incident.
“This was a very tough case not only because of the nature of the case but because the investigative matters were difficult,” Tieman said. “The (Scioto County) Sheriff’s Office perseverance in this matter was remarkable.”
In a similar case, 10 years ago, Lute pled guilty to attempted abduction of an ex-wife. That sentence included a prohibition against possessing or owning a firearm which is the basis of the charge of having a weapon under disability.
Tieman said the maximum possible sentence for the three charges on which Lute was convicted was 25 years, however Judge William T. Marshall sentenced Lute to 10 years. He has been lodged in the Scioto County Jail since his arrest in January of this year.
Reach Frank Lewis at 740-353-3101, ext. 1928, or on Twitter @franklewis.
