Convicted sex offender Paul Czoka was denied parole by a 5-3-1 vote of the full state parole board, according to the Trumbull County Prosecutor's office. Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said in a Friday release that he traveled to Columbus to oppose Czoka's parole during the Wednesday board hearing. 

The 77-year-old was sentenced in 1992 to a term of 14 to 55 years in prison for two counts of pandering obscenity and rape involving minors. According to police, Czoka's victims were five and six-years-old at the time of the assault.

Watkins and one of Czoka's victims were present at the hearing and testified against the sex offender being released on parole. Watkins stated in a release that he was "very pleased with the board's decision and the courage shown by the victims who traveled to Columbus to testify."

Czoka's next parole hearing has been set for 2031.