Cleveland Man Sentenced For Committing 4 Sexual Assaults In 1 Day

CLEVELAND — Kevin Ballard has been sentenced to nearly two decades in prison for committing four sexual assaults in Cleveland in one day, prosecutors announced.

Ballard, 28, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, two counts of gross sexual imposition, two counts of kidnapping and one count of aggravated burglary. He was sentenced to 17 to 20 years in prison. He will also be classified as a Tier III sex offender, requiring him to register his location every 90 days for the rest of his life.

“This sexual predator, who had only been out of prison for barely a week, attacked three women within twelve minutes of each other before assaulting a fourth woman five hours later," Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley said. “He will rightfully spend the next two decades in a prison cell.”

On Oct. 3, 2020, a 27-year-old woman was walking home from a coffee shop near Tremont Avenue and Jefferson Avenue when Ballard sexually assaulted her. He tried to pull her off the street but the woman threw her coffee on him and was able to escape, court documents said.

Minutes later, Ballard attacked a 32-year-old woman as she walked home on Starkweather Avenue, court documents said. He forced himself into her house, got on top of her and strangled her, court documents said.

The 32-year-old fought back and screamed for help, so Ballard stole her purse, got her car keys and drove off in her car, court documents said.

Minutes after that incident, Ballard spotted a 25-year-old woman on W. 31st Street. He grabbed her, sexually assaulted her and tried to pull her off the street, court documents said.

The woman escaped his grasp and Ballard ran away, court documents said.

Five hours after that incident, a 31-year-old woman was shopping at Target on W. 117th when Ballard walked up behind her and sexually assaulted her before running out of the store, court documents said.

Ballard was linked to these assaults by Cleveland police, who used DNA and surveillance footage to identify him, court documents said. A face mask he left behind was tested for DNA and matched Ballard, police said. Video surveillance placed him at another crime scene, while one victim was able to jot down the license plates on the car he was driving, court documents said.

He was taken into custody on Nov. 3, 2020. He later pleaded guilty to the charges against him.