Rico Hardy Sentenced to 30 Years to Life in Prison for Rape Conviction

Posted on 10/3/2023

Defendant: Rico Hardy

Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Kim Brown sentenced Rico Hardy, 47, of Columbus, to 30 years to life in prison on Sept. 29 for raping a young girl over a period several years.

In November 2020, the victim, who was 12 at the time, told her mother that Hardy had been raping her since she was 8 years old.

Hardy’s trial was in August. After hearing testimony from both the victim and her mother, the jury found Hardy guilty on all seven counts of rape against him. Thomas Vaccaro, assistant prosecuting attorney, prosecuted the case for the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office.

“Thanks to the bravery of the survivor and her willingness to testify against her attacker, this man will spend several decades locked up in prison,” said Anthony Pierson, deputy chief counsel for the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. “I commend Thomas for securing a conviction and a lengthy prison sentence.”