SF. CLAIRSVILLE — James Randall Blon of Barnesville will spend at least 25 years in prison for raping a child under 10.

Blon, 32, lives at 62820 McMillan Road, Barnesville. According to court records, he was arrested and booked into the Belmont County Jail on March 7, facing 50 criminal charges that included: six counts of first-degree rape, two counts of second-degree sexual assault , three counts of felony rape endangering children, 36 counts of second-degree felony lewdness involving a minor, one count of third-degree drug possession, and two counts of misdemeanor sexual conduct of second degree with an animal.

The case was investigated by detectives from the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department, including Detective Jordan Blumly. They were assisted by the Central Ohio Regional Crime Lab and the Ohio Organized Crime Commission, as well as the Ohio Highway Patrol’s Computer Crimes Unit.

Blon was scheduled to go to trial Monday in Belmont County Common Pleas Court before Judge Chris Berhalter. Instead, he entered into a plea agreement in which he pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree rape of a child, specifying that the victim was under 13 years old. All other charges against Blon were dismissed as a result of the plea agreement.

The agreement also stated that he would be sentenced to 25 years in prison for life.

“He won’t see a parole board for at least 25 years,” Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan said. “And he can spend the rest of his life in prison.”

If he is ever released, he will be designated a Class III sex offender and required to register with the sheriff of his county of residence once a month for the rest of his life.

According to Flanagan, authorities were alerted that Blon might be in possession of child pornography. As a result, investigators obtained a search warrant.

“We anticipated seizing the (cell) phone and finding child pornography,” Flanagan said, noting that investigators also found evidence of molestation of a child known to Blon, which led to the rape charges. Among the evidence that would have been presented if the case had gone to trial were child pornography videos as well as Blon’s confession.

Flanagan praised Deputy District Attorney Joe Vavra for his work on the case.

“He did a phenomenal job putting it together” Flanagan noted.