Rapist gets 45-plus years

PORT CLINTON — A Graytown man was recently sentenced to over 45 years in prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple sex crimes. At a court hearing on Jan. 9, Zane B. Willis, 21, 1800 block N. Walker St., was convicted on 10 counts of illegal use of a minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, each a second-degree felony; and eight counts of rape, each a first-degree felony. Willis withdrew his former not guilty by reason of insanity plea and pleaded guilty to the 18 felony charges on Oct. 20, with no charges appearing to have been amended or dismissed as a result, according to court records. Ottawa County Common Pleas Court Judge Bruce Winters sentenced Willis to serve a term of between 46 and 51 and a half years in prison. Willis additionally received credit for approximately 10 months served in jail and will be placed on a mandatory term of five years post-release control, court records state. Under the terms of his sentencing, Willis is classified as a Tier 3 sex offender, which means that he must provide verification of his home and work addresses to the local sheriff every three months for the rest of his life. Background An Ottawa County grand jury first indicted Willis on March 19, 2025. According to Willis' indictment, the crimes occurred between March 2024 and December 2024 when he engaged in sexual conduct with someone "by force or threat of force." The victim's age was not specified in the indictment. His indictment also states that Willis created, directed, produced or transferred material that depicted a child "in a state of nudity."