Cincinnati man gets max sentence in merchandise theft case

(LAWRENCEBURG, Ind.) – A Cincinnati man has been sentenced to prison for stealing from a sports store in Dearborn County. 

A jury found 59-year-old Richard North guilty of stealing $2,840 worth of merchandise from Hibbett Sports in September 2025. 

The sentencing hearing was held last week and North was sentenced to the maximum of 2-and-a-half years in prison. 

“The Court noted the defendant’s extensive criminal history spanning decades and multiple states, as well as his failure to accept responsibility for his actions. The Court found no mitigating circumstances and concluded that the maximum sentence was warranted,” Dearborn-Ohio County Prosecutor Lynn Deddens said. 

Deddens credited the Aurora Police Department and the High Tech Crime Unit for their work on the case.