ZANESVILLE, Ohio (AVC News) — A Zanesville man has been sentenced to 32 years in prison after pleading guilty to felony charges involving the sexual abuse of two minors in separate cases.
Charles B. Robinson, 55, was sentenced Aug. 24 in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court by Judge Kelly Cottrill. The court ordered his sentences in the two cases to be served consecutively.
The investigations began in 2025 after one child disclosed during a forensic interview that Robinson had sexually assaulted her.
A separate investigation began after a cellphone Robinson had secretly provided to another child was discovered. According to the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office, a forensic examination of the phone recovered sexually explicit messages Robinson had sent to the child. Investigators said the child also disclosed multiple instances of sexual assault.
Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office detectives Richard Perry and Tanner Morton led the investigations.
In case No. CR2026-0269, Robinson pleaded guilty to gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony. He was sentenced to 60 months in prison and classified as a Tier II sex offender, requiring him to register with the Sheriff’s Office every 180 days for 25 years.
In case No. CR2026-0228, Robinson pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual battery, endangering children and tampering with evidence. He was sentenced to a minimum of 27 years in prison, with 24 years mandatory.
With the sentences ordered consecutively, Robinson faces a total maximum prison term of 32 years.
Robinson also has a criminal history dating to 1989, including convictions in multiple states for offenses including burglary, theft, robbery, aggravated battery and domestic violence, according to prosecutors.
Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch said the children demonstrated courage by reporting the abuse and said the guilty pleas allowed them to avoid testifying at trial.
“These children showed tremendous courage by coming forward,” Welch said. “Securing the maximum sentence without forcing them to describe their sexual abuse in a courtroom full of strangers, and in front of their abuser, is an important outcome.”
Welch said Robinson will remain in prison until he is at least 80 years old.
Last Updated on September 2, 2026 by AVC News
