LEAVITTSBURG, Ohio - A Leavittsburg man was handed a sentence of 15 years to life in prison for the rape of multiple children with two out of three of them being mentally challenged.

According to the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office, 43-year-old Brian Harvey was sentenced to life in prison with his first chance of parole after 15 years for two cases involving the sexual assaults of three children over a period of six years.

The three girls were 17, 16 and 11 years old respectively. Two out of three of them were mentally challenged according to Trumbull County Prosecutor, Gabe Wildman.

Harvey pled guilty to a bill of information charging him with rape that carries a life sentence specification, as well as a second indicted case involving seven first-degree rape charges, one third-degree gross sexual imposition charge and six counts of illegal use of minors in nudity-oriented material or performance.

Harvey is now a tier 3 sex offender, and if he is released from prison, he must register with the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office four times per year for the rest of his life.

Wildman says he is pleased that a plea deal was reached, so the victims did not have to experience the hardships of testifying during a trial.

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