(12-9-25) The Celina Police Department arrested Joshua Ray Mullins (40) on three counts of 1st degree non-forcible rape involving a victim under the age of 13.

Mullins was arrested on Tuesday and is being held in the Mercer County Detention Center, awaiting a Mercer County Common Pleas Court hearing. Mullins is being held on a $500,000 cash bond. 

In Ohio…

Sexual activity with minors under 13 years old is always considered rape, regardless of circumstances. Consent is legally irrelevant, and any sexual conduct with a child under this age is a first-degree felony. Courts consistently uphold this absolute prohibition, reinforcing protections for younger minors. 

Penalties and Sentencing

Rape is classified as a first-degree felony in Ohio, carrying severe penalties. A standard conviction results in 3 to 11 years in prison, but certain aggravating factors lead to harsher sentences. If the victim is under 13 years old, penalties escalate dramatically, with a potential life sentence without parole if force or the threat of force was used. If the offender causes serious physical harm, the court may impose a minimum 15-year sentence.