'What you did is monstrous': Portage judge gives Windham rapist 32 years for raping girl

A Windham man will spend more than 30 years behind bars for the rape and sexual abuse of a girl over a four-year period, starting when she was 5.

Portage County Common Pleas Judge Laurie J. Pittman on Friday sentenced Cody M. Gritten, 30, to 32 to 43 1/2 years in prison. She also determined Gritten is a Tier III sex offender, which will require that he register with the sheriff of any county where he lives or works every 90 days for life if he's ever released from prison.

"A horrible case. Horrible," said Pittman.

According to a grand jury indictment, the sexual assaults took place between July 2017 and Dec. 4, 2022.

The Portage County Sheriff's Office said Gritten was arrested after it executed a search warrant of his Cloverleaf Road home on Dec. 15, 2022, during an investigation into allegations that he raped a minor.

The Portage County SWAT Team and the sheriff's Drug and Violent Crime Unit were present due to a notification of firearms in the home. The sheriff's office said multiple guns and ammunition were found.

Prior to the sentencing, Elizabeth Jones, Gritten's attorney, requested a sentence of 11 years. She said that based on scientific studies, "Mr. Gritten has some qualities that make him a good candidate for treatment."

In a sentencing memorandum filed in court, Jones noted that Gritten served in the Marine Corps for three years and eight months, earning several medals, and family and friends offered testimonials that he has redeeming qualities.

Gritten declined to comment when Pittman gave him the opportunity.

Prosecutor Connie Lewandowski requested a 33-year sentence, saying this was one of the most "egregious" child sex abuse cases she had ever dealt with.

She said Gritten not only assaulted the girl, but used weapons to intimidate her, adding that the girl was essentially "tortured."

"What makes this case so chilling is this defendant utilized violence in an effort to silence this little girl," she said. "He used a gun. He used a sword. These items of evidence were found by law enforcement, consistent with her statement."

Lewandowski said "sex toys" were also found with the girl's DNA on them. She said the girl and her mother were not present in court out of fear.

Just before handing down Gritten's sentence, Pittman had her say.

"Your attorney is very passionate about protecting her clients," she told Gritten. "She wrote a very moving brief. But what you did is monstrous. You took the innocence of a little child and tortured − that's the best word I've heard − and tortured her. All she wanted was for this to stop and you wouldn't stop. She was fearful for her safety, her well being, and her family's well being, and you wouldn't stop."

Gritten pleaded guilty in December to charges of rape, endangering children and attempted rape, and two counts of gross sexual imposition. The rape charge included a firearm specification related to a .45-caliber pistol.

He had been facing 38 to 51 1/2 years in prison, according to court records.

In a plea deal, the gross sexual imposition charges were both amended down from felony rape, and the endangering children charge was amended down from second-degree felony rape. Other charges in the indictment were dismissed in the plea deal, including two felony rape counts and single counts of intimidation and possession of criminal tools.

Additional specifications were also dismissed.

Pittman also ordered that Gritten pay a $500 fine and nearly $600 in court costs within 20 years. He has the option of paying the debt while performing community service in prison at a rate of $10 per hour.

Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Windham child rapist gets at least 32 years for years of assaults