EXCLUSIVE STORY | Former Carey Councilman Gets 20 Years to Life on 11 Counts of Rape

Booking photo

BOWLING GREEN — Former Carey councilman Evaristo Hernandez was sentenced Thursday to 10 years on every count of 11 rape convictions, and the sentence was stated in court as 20 years to life, according to an eyewitness in the courtroom.

He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life. His wife did not attend the sentencing.

The sentencing and sex-offender classification hearing had been scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, before Wood County Common Pleas Judge Mary “Molly” L. Mack. As of Thursday afternoon, the official sentencing entry could not be confirmed on the Wood County Clerk of Courts public docket.

A Wood County jury found Hernandez guilty of 11 first-degree felony rape counts in State of Ohio vs. Evaristo Hernandez, case 2026CR0197. The four-day jury trial began Nov. 3. Verdict forms signed by 12 jurors on Nov. 9 returned guilty verdicts on Counts 1 through 11. The docket also records an additional finding of guilty on Counts 9, 10 and 11 but does not describe what that finding is. The docket, reviewed after the verdict, showed no recorded verdict, acquittal or dismissal for Counts 12 and 13.

In a Nov. 9 entry and order, the court revoked Hernandez’s bond and ordered him held without bond. He was booked into jail the same day. TiffinOhio.info previously reported the verdict.

A direct indictment filed April 17, 2026, charged Hernandez, 55, with 13 counts of rape, all first-degree felonies. Counts 1 through 8 were brought under Ohio Revised Code 2907.02(A)(2), which addresses rape by force or threat of force. Counts 9 through 13 were brought under 2907.02(A)(1)(b), which addresses rape of a person under 13 years of age. Hernandez pleaded not guilty on April 27. Two earlier Wood County cases, 2025CR0398 and 2025CR0399, were dismissed without prejudice on April 30, 2026, after a superseding indictment was filed in 2026CR0197.

At an Oct. 5 hearing before Judge Mack, Hernandez rejected a joint recommended sentence of 15 years, the Advertiser-Tribune reported the following day. Defense attorney Scott Coon represented Hernandez. Wood County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Morgan Spitler told the court, “The defendant said he was not interested in negotiating,” the newspaper reported.

Hernandez had been a member of Carey Village Council in Wyandot County. The Village of Carey lists his council term as expiring Dec. 31, 2027. The criminal case was tried in Wood County Common Pleas Court in Bowling Green.

News organizations including the Advertiser-Tribune and WTOL previously reported that the charges involved allegations from 2004 through 2006. The Fostoria Free Press is not identifying the victims.