YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – In April 2025, Michael Alexander was sentenced to 15 to 19 years in prison following his conviction for two counts of Rape. In November of 2025, Alexander’s consecutive sentences were affirmed by the Seventh District Court of Appeals. When a defendant is convicted of multiple charges, a judge can order the sentences to run consecutively or concurrently. Consecutive sentencing means each sentence is served one after the other, increasing the total time the defendant spends in prison. Concurrent sentencing means the sentences are served at the same time, so the defendant serves only the longest sentence. In this case, Alexander is ordered to serve his sentence consecutively.
Alexander appealed the Trial Court’s Consecutive Sentencing, stating that the trial court didn’t have a reason to order Alexander to serve his sentence consecutively. The Appellate Court states in its ruling that “The record in this case reflects no sentencing error. The trial court gave due deliberation to the relevant statutory considerations and properly advised Appellant regarding post-release control.” The Appellate Court further upheld the trial court’s decision, stating that “Consecutive sentences are necessary in order to protect the public, to punish Defendant, they are not disproportionate, and that the harm was so great or unusual that a single term does not adequately reflect the seriousness of the conduct.”
Ultimately, the appeals court affirmed the trial court’s decision in full. Assistant Prosecutor Kristie Weibling successfully prosecuted the case on appeal.
