James Key
Victim: Female Adult (4)
Case Summary
Since 1968, James Key has been sexually assaulting women. While on parole previously, he committed a federal offense by robbing a post office. Key was sentenced to a total of 36-115 years in prison in Ohio, plus an additional 25-year federal sentence for the post office robbery. Key was paroled a third time on August 19, 2009. Federal authorities did not pursue him for his federal offense. Key is now off parole supervision.
james key case
UPDATE: Despite James Key’s lengthy criminal record and violent history the Ohio Parole Board granted Key parole and released him on 7/20/2010. After being removed from parole supervison James Key failed to report as a sex offender and disappeared. He is now wanted by law enforcement. To report information on the whereabouts of James Key please email the Ohio Attorney General at: OHLegSupport@ohioattorneygeneral.gov. You can also reach them by phone at (866) 406-4534
Serial Rapist
In 1968, inmate James Key was indicted on 12 counts for breaking into three East Side residences with a knife and attacking three women. Mr. Key pled to one count of armed robbery (10-25 year sentence) and one count of assault with attempt to rape (1-15 year sentence).
Key was paroled from the above crimes and shortly thereafter committed a federal offense when he robbed the McAllister branch of the Columbus post office at gunpoint. Key pled to one count of armed postal robbery and received a 25-year sentence.
Key was on parole from the post office robbery when, on September 8, 1984, he broke into a Winner Avenue woman’s home and raped her while holding a gun to her 15-month-old daughter’s head. Key was then arrested on December 10, 1984 after trying to break into the North Ohio Avenue home of another woman.
After receiving a sentence of 36-115 years, James Key continued to abuse the system by continually suing Franklin County. Mr. Key sued the county nine times until judge Pat McGrath banned Key from suing the county. Judge McGrath stated:
“Defendant’s repetitious post-conviction petitions based on allegations which have previously been found to be meritless constitute harassment and abuse of the judicial process.”
This ruling was the first of its kind in Franklin County Ohio Common Pleas Court.
No Parole
Based on the fact that Mr. Key has been committing crimes for at least 41 years, has assaulted at least five women, has endangered the life of a young child, has abused the system continually, and has not even served half of his maximum sentence (not including the federal sentence), we believe the release of James Key was not in the interest of justice and poses a serious threat to the community.
UPDATE:
After being removed from parole supervison James Key failed to report as a sex offender and disappeared. He is now wanted by law enforcement. To report information on the whereabouts of James Key please email the Ohio Attorney General at: OHLegSupport@ohioattorneygeneral.gov. You can also reach them by phone at (866) 406-4534
To view James Key’s page on the Ohio sex offender registry, click here.
Contact Us
Looking to add a name to our list, or provide additional information on one of our cases? Please contact us at Block Parole now!