Cleveland Man Sentenced For Sexually Assaulting Social Worker

CLEVELAND — A Cleveland man was sentenced to prison Wednesday for sexually and physically assaulting a social worker.

Kenneth Graves, 59, previously pleaded guilty to rape, attempted murder, gross sexual imposition, felonious assault and kidnapping. He was sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison and will be listed as Tier III sex offender in Ohio.

“This man violently attacked and assaulted a social worker,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley in a statement. “This horrible crime has forever changed the victim’s life and I hope this conviction and sentence provides some justice for her.”

On June 2, 2021, a 64-year-old social worker went to Graves' apartment for a well-being check, prosecutors said. Once she was inside the apartment, Graves held a knife to the worker's stomach, shoved her to the ground and suffocated her, according to court documents.

Graves then punched the woman several times, strangled her and sexually assaulted her, prosecutors said. Afterwards, he let the 64-year-old leave his apartment and she called the police.

Law enforcement arrived and took Graves into custody. The social worker was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, prosecutors said.