Child rapist gets 15 years

SANDUSKY — A man convicted of raping a child will spend at least a decade and a half in prison. On March 12, Austen Neiding, 22, of the 300 block of Reese St., was sentenced by Erie County Common Pleas Court Roger Binette on several sex crimes. Neiding previously pleaded guilty to one count each of rape and importuning and two counts of gross sexual imposition. He received the following sentences: • Gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony — two-and-a-half years • Rape, a first-degree felony — 11 years to 16.5 years • Importuning, a third-degree felony — nine months • Gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony — 18 months Binette ordered the first count of gross sexual imposition and the importuning count to be served concurrently with one another for a total of two-and-a-half years in prison. That total was then ordered to be served consecutively with both the rape and other gross sexual imposition count for a total sentence — a range of 15 years to 20-and-a-half years in prison. He was ordered to pay court costs. No restitution was ordered. Neiding will be labeled a Tier 3 sex offender. That means he must register his home and work addresses with the local sheriff every three months for the rest of his life. He will be subject to five years of post-release control after leaving prison. Background Neiding was originally charged with three counts of rape, seven counts of gross sexual imposition, two counts of kidnapping and one count each of importuning and strangulation. Two reported victims were allegedly held against their will in a city home, according to Sandusky police Chief Jared Oliver. One of the rape charges covers conduct throughout 2023 when a victim was under 13 years old. Another rape charge covers conduct from November 2023 through July 2024, and the third charge covers alleged conduct from June 2024 through July 2024. One of the victims was allegedly strangled.