Reality TV Alumnus Tony McCollister Gets 15 Years to Life for Child Rape
A Warren County couple convicted of multiple sex crimes received sentences on Tuesday, with the judge calling the case among the worst in his 17 years on the bench.
By Anthony Lawson ·
Tony McCollister, a former reality television personality, received a prison term of 15 years to life on Tuesday for raping a child and committing bestiality. His co-defendant, Erica Groves, was sentenced to seven years in prison for her role in the offenses.
The presiding judge described the case as one of the most severe he has encountered during his 17 years on the bench. Prosecutors had requested a sentence of life without parole for McCollister. They presented the case alongside remarks from the victim’s father, who addressed the court regarding the lasting effects of the abuse.
"No sentence can undo what happened. None of this is her fault," the victim’s father told the court. He also stated his belief that Groves directed the abuse while McCollister acted as a willing participant.
McCollister addressed the court about his personal history of trauma and his efforts toward redemption during his incarceration. He is required to register as a sex offender for life. Groves received a sentence below the maximum ten-year term available to her.
During Groves’ sentencing, prosecutors read letters submitted on her behalf, which they characterized as misleading. Groves apologized to the victim and her family. She told the court that McCollister had abused, manipulated, tormented, and blackmailed her.
Groves must register as a tier two sex offender for 25 years. Both defendants were convicted of multiple sex crime charges in Warren County, Ohio.
