Sentence upheld for Trumbull County man convicted of aggravated robbery, rape

Ohio's 11th District Court of Appeals upheld the convction of a man convicted of a 2002 aggravated robbery and rape case in Trumbull County.

According to a court filing, the Appeals Court upheld the conviction of Christopher McBride, who was sentenced in 2003 to 40 years in prison on two counts each of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, rape and kidnapping, as well as one count each of burglary and receiving stolen property.

According to the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office, the court noted in its sentencing entry that McBride "terrorized a minor, a 71-year-old widow and a 51-year-old professional woman, whom he raped in her own house."

McBride was also sentenced in a separate case in Mahoning County around that same time on several robbery and burglary charges.

In 2015, McBride filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea, but the court denied this motion. He then filed another motion in 2017 for resentencing in the case. This too was denied.

McBride filed two more motions in 2024 with one requesting complete transcripts of court proceedings, and another for transcripts only arguing that a transcript would show " deficet performance by council."

The request for transcripts only was denied with the court saying the court had provided McBride with the record, transcripts and necessary documents to file two appeals, as well as other documents upon request and that after 22 years, the court no longer has access to the transcript of the proceedings.

McBride alleged that the court violated his right to a fair sentence because counsel did not call attention to the plea agreement or discuss it in any manner.

Ultimately, the court found these claims to be without merit and upheld McBride's conviction. McBride will continue to serve his term at the Grafton Correctional Institution.