XENIA — A Kettering man will spend life in prison for the rape of a child younger than 10.
Judge Michael A. Buckwalter sentenced Matthew M. Jones, 45, to life without the possibility of parole Feb. 13 in Greene County Common Pleas Court. Jones had changed his plea to guilty Feb. 4.
According to the November 2019 indictment, the Greene County offense occurred between May and November 2003. Prosecutor Stephen Haller said the crime happened in Xenia.
In a plea agreement, the state and the defense had agreed to a prison term of 15 years to life for the first-degree felony.
Buckwalter said the court came to the decision after an “exhaustive” examination of the pre-sentence report, defendant’s history and a psychological examination.
“Justice requires this sentence in that the crime the defendant committed, rape of a 3-year-old girl, is so monstrous, so depraved, and so unspeakable that no other sentence could properly be imposed in a civilized society,” he said. “ … this court concludes that the defendant is not capable of rehabilitation and will always pose an imminent threat to the safety of young children.”
Prior to the sentencing, Defense Attorney John Leahy asked the court to consider Jones as a candidate to be released on parole after serving his mandatory sentences.
“He’s obviously been made aware of the gravity of his actions and is here to accept responsibility for that … He has, over the course of these number of years, gone through multiple visits with doctors, psychologists, trying to figure out what it is that led him here. There are a number of different things over the course of Mr. Jones’ entire life that led him here, not all of which is his doing.”
Leahy spoke about rehabilitative measures that could help him re-enter the public after potential release.
“The offenses themselves were committed in the early 2000s and he will be so far removed from his actual conduct, in conjunction with all the rehabilitative measures that are going to be available to him,” Leahy said.
Jones also addressed the court.
“The family I betrayed had invited me into their homes so many years ago … I was unaware at the time that I was turning the very people I love into victims through my selfish and confusing actions,” Jones said. “I pray every day that I have not destroyed anyone’s life and further not hindered their pursuit of love, happiness, or truth … I pray that today justice has been served and that one day they may be able to forgive me for what I’ve done.”
Jones was already set to serve 22 years in the federal system. He was convicted of two counts of producing child pornography in U.S. District Court in 2018. He was also convicted and sentenced for rape of a child younger than 10, two counts of sexual battery, and gross sexual imposition in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court in January.
According to the Department of Justice, Jones sexually abused two 3-year-old girls and created hundreds of images of the abuse in 2003 and 2009. The release said he also used computer file sharing programs to receive, possess and view images and videos of the sexual abuse of toddlers and young children.
