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11-year-old rape victim's parents react to plea agreement

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By Denise G. Callahan, Staff Writer Updated 4:36 PM Monday, November 16, 2009

Parents of an 11-year-old rape victim found it hard to find words to tell the judge how they feel about a Waynesville man who pleaded guilty to three counts of rape.

Aaron Hymer, 35, was poised to go to trial Monday, Nov. 16 before he agreed to a plea agreement on charges he raped his daughter’s friend, who was 10 at the time, during a sleep-over at his Waynesville home in March.

“You never think anything like this can happen to your daughter. I don’t understand and it crushes me,” the father said. “I have to deal with her nightmares, she can’t sleep in her own bed, I just want to know why? Why? Why? It’s sick.”

Hymer’s attorney Marty Hubble said up until the last minute, the prosecution had not offered a reasonable plea agreement. The offer Hymer took and Warren County Common Pleas Judge Robert Peeler agreed to was three years in prison and five years probation. Once he is released from prison he must register every 90 days as a tier three sex offender and cannot have any contact with the victim or her family.

“Aaron has always maintained his innocence, but with the jury system, the possibility was there that he could be in prison for the rest of his life,” Hubble said.

Hymer appeared reluctant when he entered his plea and Peeler appeared reluctant to approve the plea. Peeler said ensuring Hymer won’t have access to the girl for eight years — his prison time and probation together — is some comfort.

The victim was in court with her parents, who both tearfully told Peeler they agreed with the sentence, but still couldn’t understand why this happened.

“I just hope she can be strong enough to get through this,” the mother said. “It’s a mother’s worst nightmare.”

Hymer graduated from Lebanon High School in 1992 and worked as a machinist at Quebecor World Inc.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or dcallahan@coxohio.com.

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