CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Dacoma M. Lett of Chillicothe was released from custody on a personal recognizance bond May 8, 2026, following his 2024 rape conviction in Ross County Common Pleas Court.
Court records show Lett, identified as the defendant in case number 22CR004449, faced two counts of rape, a first-degree felony under Ohio Revised Code 2907.02, and two counts of attempted rape, a second-degree felony under Ohio Revised Code 2923.02. The case was filed December 27, 2022. Judge Matthew S. Schmidt presided.
The jury trial concluded with a disposition dated December 3, 2024. Transcripts reference additional proceedings, including a status conference held February 22, 2024, and jury trial sessions held November 19 and 20, 2024.
Lett filed a notice of appeal on December 16, 2024. The appeal, docketed as 24CA043 in the Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals, lists trial court case 22CR004449. According to the Ross County Prosecutor’s Office status of appeals (as of May 1, 2026):
• Appellant’s brief was filed April 24, 2025.
• State’s brief was filed August 25, 2025.
• Appellant’s reply brief, requesting oral argument, was filed September 4, 2025.
• Appellee’s (possibly a typo) request for oral argument was filed November 20, 2025.
• A magistrate’s order on January 28, 2026 scheduled oral argument for March 5, 2026, in Vinton County.
• The complete file, exhibits, and six transcripts were sent to the Court of Appeals on January 30, 2026.
No decision or ruling on the appeal appears in the available records.
On May 6, 2026, the trial court issued an order scheduling a bond hearing for May 8, 2026. A warrant for removal was issued to the Ross County Sheriff on May 7, 2026.
The bond hearing was held May 8, 2026, from 3:12 p.m. to 3:17 p.m.
The court filed a commitment order the same day releasing Lett on personal recognizance with the condition of no direct or indirect contact with the victim. A status conference is scheduled for June 8, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. A recognizance of the accused was also filed May 8, 2026.
Lucas Parsell of the Ohio Public Defender’s Office represented Lett in the trial court. The case status in the trial court is listed as closed.
