YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO – Dustin Ruiter, 50, was found guilty of 33 counts of rape, one count of Attempted Rape, and 33 counts of sexual battery after a four-day jury trial before Judge Anthony D’Apolito. Assistant Prosecutors Caitlyn Andrews and Kristie Weibling led the prosecution.
In 2019, Ruiter was arrested after an investigation revealed he had sexually assaulted several minors. A Mahoning County Grand Jury indicted him on 73 counts, including Rape, Attempted Rape, Gross Sexual Imposition, and Sexual Battery.
Ruiter was originally tried and sentenced in 2022, but the 7th District Court of Appeals overturned his rape and sexual battery convictions, finding the denial of the defense’s request for a DNA expert was improper. The case was returned to the trial court for retrial.
Ruiter will be re-sentenced at a later date.
Mahoning County Prosecutor Lynn Maro would like to thank the hard work of the Youngstown Police Department and Assistant Prosecutors Andrews and Weibling for their efforts in securing the conviction.
