Convicted Rapists Up For Release From Prison

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Community advocates are fighting to keep two convicted rapists behind bars.

The inmates are up for parole and were scheduled to be released next week, but the county prosecutor stepped in and put the releases on hold.

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said he's only had to make similar requests about six times in the last five years. But when it comes to sex offenders and repeat offenders, he questions whether they'll strike again, NBC 4's Ana Jackson reported.

James Key was jailed in 1985 for rape and burglary -- and then again in 1986 for robbery and assault.

"He raped a woman while holding a gun to the 15-month-old daughter's head in Sept. 1984 … and he was arrested after trying to break into another home," O'Brien said.

Earl Kimbler was convicted of rape and burglary in 1987.

"While armed with a knife on the south side, he raped a 20-year-old woman by breaking into an apartment at 3 a.m. He raped her repeatedly," O'Brien said.

O'Brien questions Kimbler's and Key's upcoming releases.

"There are some people that are ticking time bombs. If they are released from custody, we believe they're likely to reoffend," O'Brien said.

In an e-mail, O'Brien requested a full board hearing to reconsider the facts of the cases.

The parole board stopped the releases and granted the request.

"What we are able to do in the hearings are put the face of the victim and put some additional facts in the record and I have found the parole board, when they have the most complete picture, generally will be responsive to concerns about community safety," O'Brien said.

NBC 4 wanted to find out how the men were up for parole in the beginning, but a representative for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections said the parole board does not speak about specific cases.

Officials did provide access to the board's decisions.

Kimbler was given a good rating for institutional conduct and institutional programming.

Key was given a good and superior rating.

Both reviews stated the release of the men would "further the interest of justice and promote the safety and security of society."

"I'm not one of those people that picks on the parole board for releasing people because I know they have a tough job. They have a lot of people in the system. I have found that they are responsive to a request for a hearing where a more complete picture can be presented to them," O'Brien said. "They operate on a grid system where they look at the nature of the crime just by the label, the conduct in prison - positive and negative, and the amount of time spent -- and both men have spent substantial time on their sentences."

Even with the board hearing, O'Brien said there is no guarantee that the two men will remain behind bars.

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