CLEVELAND -- A Cleveland restaurateur was sentenced to 35 years in prison today after a jury found him guilty of rape and other sexual offenses, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty said.
Sean Heineman, 48, of Chardon, was charged with 33 counts for sexually assaulting a victim beginning at the age of 11 and continuing through the age of 19.
Heineman has financial interests in several Cleveland-area restaurants.
Heineman is a former franchisee of the Harry Buffalo restaurant in downtown Cleveland and is involved in several other area restaurants, including the Willoughby Brewing Company and Ballantine Gastropub, both in Willoughby.
A jury found Heineman guilty of six counts of rape, 15 counts of gross sexual Imposition, and nine counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Following this verdict, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Daniel Gaul dismissed the jury and scheduled sentencing for 2 p.m.
Judge Gaul sentenced Heineman to 35 years in prison, plus a $5,000 fine for each guilty count, for a total of $150,000 in fines, plus court costs.
Heineman was arrested by Cleveland Heights police Aug. 9, 2014 and indicted two days later by a Cuyahoga County grand jury on 18 counts of rape and 16 counts of gross sexual imposition. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and posted his $500,000 bond.
Heineman used to be a partner in the Cleveland restaurant group which owns Town Hall in Ohio City and the Barley House in the Warehouse District. A spokesman for the restaurant group says Heineman sold his interest in both restaurants.
"By his own testimony, Heineman thought he was untouchable. This is very much a case of one's past catching up with him," said Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Brent Kirvel, who represented the state of Ohio in this case along with Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Blaise Thomas and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Edward Fadel.
"Heineman was convicted by his own words on audiotapes and he will serve a well-deserved sentence for the decade of heinous abuse he inflicted on his victim."
