Mercer County Prosecutor Seeks 42 Year Prison Term in Joshua Mullins Case

Mercer County prosecutors are asking the court to sentence Joshua Mullins to an aggregate prison term of 42 years after he pleaded guilty to seven counts of forcible rape in Mercer County Common Pleas Court. According to the state’s sentencing memorandum, the charges involved three victims identified as Mullins’ stepdaughters, with the offenses occurring between 2012 and 2014.

In its filing, the state said Mullins admitted during police interviews that the abuse happened multiple times and argued the case involved significant aggravating factors, including the ages of the victims and Mullins’ position within the household. Prosecutors told the court the plea agreement reduced Mullins’ overall sentencing exposure, but they said a lengthy prison term remains appropriate given the seriousness of the offenses.

A separate sentencing memorandum filed by the defense asks the court to impose the statutory minimum sentence. Defense attorneys argued Mullins has accepted responsibility, shown remorse, and has no prior felony record. The filing also points to Mullins’ traumatic childhood, mental health struggles, and what it describes as a low likelihood of reoffending.

The defense specifically requested a sentence at the lower end of the range allowed under the plea agreement, while the state asked the court to order consecutive prison terms on each count. Sentencing will be up to the court.