LISBON — An East Liverpool man who sexually assaulted a child repeatedly over a two-year period was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison, saying nothing when given the opportunity to speak.

“His actions have left deep scars that I will carry with me forever,” the victim wrote in a letter read aloud by Columbiana County Assistant Prosecutor Tammie Riley Jones.

Joseph A. Goss, 41, Hollywood Avenue, faced his punishment in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court for two amended counts of rape, a first-degree felony, and one count of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony, with the age element removed from the rape offenses as part of a plea agreement reached earlier this fall.

An additional first-degree felony rape charge, a second-degree felony sexual battery charge and an additional third-degree felony gross sexual imposition charge were dismissed.

Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam acknowledged the comments read into the record on behalf of the victim by Jones and also letters presented to him by the victim’s mother and sister.

He noted that these type of cases are among the most difficult cases the court deals with and the harm experienced by the victim “cannot be understated.”

Washam followed the recommendation of Jones and county Assistant Prosecutor Alec Beech, sentencing Goss to 10 years in prison for each rape count and 60 months or five years for the gross sexual imposition and ordering the terms served consecutively for a total prison term of 25 years. He acknowledged the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections could add up to an additional five years after he’s done serving the 25 since the rape sentences are indefinite terms with a range of 10 to 15 years.

Washam also designated Goss as a Tier III sex offender required to report his address to the sheriff’s office when he’s released.

Jones said the consecutive sentences were necessary to punish the offender and protect the public.

“These are some of the most heinous charges that exist in our criminal justice system,” she said.

Goss was indicted in July for allegedly engaging in sexual conduct and sexual contact with a child 11 to 12 years old from Jan. 1, 2022 to March 6, 2024 in Columbiana. Jones went into great detail about the different sex acts that occurred in this case, saying Goss robbed the victim of her innocence and forced her to deal with things that were beyond her years.

“This pain will be with me throughout my whole life,” the victim wrote in her letter to the court.

Defense attorney Joe King spoke on behalf of his client, noting there was nothing he could say to minimize the seriousness of the charges, but his client did cooperate when approached by Columbiana police. He said this started when Goss started drinking again, which is no excuse, but “he has cooperated with police.”

“I know that he seriously regrets this,” King said.

The rape offenses in the indictment carried age elements due to the victim being 11 to 12 years old at the time of the offenses and carried a possible life sentence. As part of the plea agreement, Goss avoided the life sentence since the age elements were eliminated.

“We’re pleased with the resolution that was reached,” Jones said after the sentencing hearing.

She thanked the Columbiana Police Department and in particular Detective Richard Whitfield for doing a good job with the investigation.