Today, Prosecuting Attorney Mat Heck, Jr. announced the recipient of the 2020 Champion of Children Award to acknowledge the extraordinary results that can be obtained when citizens become involved.
This year, the award recipient is Ms. Tiffany Martin. Last year, Ms. Martin’s 7‐year‐old daughter disclosed to her that she and two other girls had been sexually assaulted for approximately three years by a family friend. Tiffany immediately contacted the Miamisburg Police Department.
On April 1, 2019, defendant Scott E. Pate, 54 years old at the time, was indicted for 10 counts of Rape of a child under 10 years of age, 10 counts of Gross Sexual Imposition of a child under 13 years of age, and two counts of Disseminating Matter Harmful to Juveniles, as the investigation determined the defendant had also shown the girls adult pornography.
Once news of the indictment was made public, an additional victim came forward and reported to police that she had also been sexually assaulted by the defendant, in 2004. Subsequently, on May 1, 2019, the defendant was indicted for an additional four counts of Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor. Additionally, Sexually Violent Predator Specifications were added to the original 22 counts in the indictment.
On October 7, 2019, after a trial, the jury found the defendant guilty as charged on 25 counts. On December 20, 2019, a separate bench trial was held on the Sexually Violent Predator Specifications. The court found the defendant guilty as charged on the specifications.
On January 31, 2020, the defendant was sentenced to the maximum possible sentence under Ohio law of 10 consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional and consecutive 58 years‐to‐life in prison.
Prosecutor Heck continued, “What makes this case special, is that Tiffany’s mother was acquainted with the defendant and his wife. When Tiffany’s mother passed away, the defendant and his wife became like ‘grandparents’ to Tiffany’s children. Obviously, Tiffany was devasted when she learned that someone she considered ‘family’ had victimized her daughter and other children. Tiffany didn’t hesitate to report the disclosure to the police to protect her children at all costs. Tiffany did everything needed to assist our office in successfully convicting a violent sexual predator. For these reasons and more, the Awards Committee and I have determined that Tiffany Martin should be the recipient of the 2020 Champion of Children Award.”
Prosecutor Heck also commended Miamisburg Police Sgt. Michael Aiken, who investigated the case, and Assistant Prosecutors Kelly Madzey and Franklin Gehres, who were the prosecutors on the case.
