Published: December 29, 2025 | Last Updated: December 29, 2025

LORAIN COUNTY, OH | In a significant development following our November 4, 2025, report on the intertwined criminal cases against Roger N. Mincey and Ashley Lenhart in Lorain County, a jury has found Mincey guilty on 12 out of 14 charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor. The verdict, delivered on November 12, 2025, marks a critical step in the prosecution of these heinous allegations, which stem from incidents dating back to 2020.

Mincey, 40, of Elyria, Ohio, was indicted in January 2024 (Case No. 24CR110392) on 13 felony counts and one misdemeanor, including rape, complicity to commit rape, complicity to sexual battery, gross sexual imposition, complicity to gross sexual imposition, pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, endangering children, compelling prostitution, and pandering obscenity. The charges accused Mincey of raping and molesting a preteen girl who is a relative of his former girlfriend, allegedly offering the woman money to facilitate access to the victim. An additional finding on one of the counts confirmed that the victim was less than 10 years old at the time of the offense.

The multi-day jury trial, presided over by Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Donna Freeman, began in early November 2025. After five days of testimony, closing arguments were presented, and jury instructions were read on November 10. Deliberations commenced the following day at 8:30 a.m., with the jury reaching a unanimous verdict by approximately 1:32 p.m. on November 12. Mincey was found guilty on Counts 1 through 8, 10, 11, 13, and 14—all felonies. He was acquitted on Count 9 and Count 12 was dismissed upon a Rule 29 motion. Following the verdict, Mincey’s bond was revoked, and he was remanded to the Lorain County Correctional Facility (LCCF) to await sentencing.

This conviction builds on earlier indictments from 2021, where Mincey faced similar charges involving minors identified as ML and ZM, though those cases appear to have been consolidated or expanded into the 2024 proceedings. The 2024 case focused primarily on the abuse of the preteen relative, highlighting a pattern of exploitation and endangerment.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 9, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., where Judge Freeman will determine Mincey’s punishment. Given the severity of the charges—many of which are first- and second-degree felonies—Mincey faces the possibility of life imprisonment without parole on the rape counts, along with mandatory sex offender registration. Prosecutors from the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office, led by attorneys at the Justice Center, have emphasized the need for accountability in protecting vulnerable children.

Mincey’s co-defendant, Ashley Lenhart, 35, who shared the same Fifth Street address, faces her own set of related charges from 2021 and potentially 2024, including rape, sexual battery, and endangering children. While her case remains separate, the overlapping allegations suggest complicity in the offenses. Updates on Lenhart’s proceedings were not detailed in the recent docket entries, but her trial may follow similar scrutiny.

Community response to the verdict has been one of relief, with local advocates for child protection praising the jury’s decision. As one anonymous forum commenter noted during the trial, “These cases drag on too long, but justice for the victims is finally in sight.” The Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, which handled Mincey’s arrest on November 4, 2025, and subsequent transport, continues to support the investigation.

This case underscores the challenges in prosecuting child sexual exploitation crimes, including trial delays due to discovery, motions, and speedy trial waivers. For the latest developments, monitor the Lorain County Common Pleas Court dockets or official announcements from the prosecutor’s office. Mincey is presumed to maintain his innocence pending any appeals, but the guilty verdict stands as a strong affirmation of the evidence presented.