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By Ed Meyer
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 10:50 p.m. EDT, Jul 02, 2009
A Barberton man has been sentenced to five years in prison for unlawful sexual conduct with a 15-year-old girl and for sending the teen an explicit photo by phone mail.
Before the sentence was imposed this week in Summit County Common Pleas Court, the defendant, John A. Russell, apparently tried to wiggle out of his responsibility for at least one of the crimes.
Evidence at Russell's trial established that he became romantically involved with the teen through her friendship with one of his sons.
When it came time to meet with probation department officials while Russell was free on bond, he attempted to blame someone else for sending the explicit photo: his son.
As Russell stood before Common Pleas Judge Mary Margaret Rowlands in Wednesday's sentencing hearing, the judge let him know how she felt about his conduct.
''The court's offended that you blamed your son for that,'' Rowlands said.
Russell then tried to respond, but was admonished once again.
''No, you had your chance. We're done,'' the judge said.
Russell was sentenced to four years in prison for each of three felony counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and one year for disseminating material harmful to a juvenile in connection with the explicit photo.
The judge ordered two of the four-year terms to run concurrently with the first sentence and also placed Russell into the state's Tier Two sex-offender classification.
It means he will have to register his address with sheriff's officials every six months for 25 years once he is released from prison.
After Wednesday's hearing, Lilly and Robert Jaggers of Barberton — grandparents of the defendant's two sons — lashed out at Russell.
''It's hard to believe,'' Robert Jaggers said, ''that a grown man would try to put everything on his son to take the blame for him. It shows you what kind of person he is.''
Lilly Jaggers said she was happy that Russell was sent away for five years because his sons will have that time to restore some semblance of order in their lives.
''There's no excuse for what he did,'' Lilly Jaggers said. ''He finally got caught, and there's no telling what else went on, you know?''
Despite Russell's assertions that he and the teen were romantically involved but stopped short of having sex, Rowlands said case evidence showed the defendant had sex with the teen on at least one occasion.
In an interview with the teen at the Children At Risk Evaluation Center (CARE) at Akron Children's Hospital, she told staff members that Russell had sex with her on more than one occasion.
The interview was admitted into evidence at Russell's jury trial in early May.
Ed Meyer can be reached at 330-996-3784 or emeyer@thebeaconjournal.com.
A Barberton man has been sentenced to five years in prison for unlawful sexual conduct with a 15-year-old girl and for sending the teen an explicit photo by phone mail.
Before the sentence was imposed this week in Summit County Common Pleas Court, the defendant, John A. Russell, apparently tried to wiggle out of his responsibility for at least one of the crimes.
Evidence at Russell's trial established that he became romantically involved with the teen through her friendship with one of his sons.
When it came time to meet with probation department officials while Russell was free on bond, he attempted to blame someone else for sending the explicit photo: his son.
As Russell stood before Common Pleas Judge Mary Margaret Rowlands in Wednesday's sentencing hearing, the judge let him know how she felt about his conduct.
''The court's offended that you blamed your son for that,'' Rowlands said.
Russell then tried to respond, but was admonished once again.
''No, you had your chance. We're done,'' the judge said.
Russell was sentenced to four years in prison for each of three felony counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and one year for disseminating material harmful to a juvenile in connection with the explicit photo.
The judge ordered two of the four-year terms to run concurrently with the first sentence and also placed Russell into the state's Tier Two sex-offender classification.
It means he will have to register his address with sheriff's officials every six months for 25 years once he is released from prison.
After Wednesday's hearing, Lilly and Robert Jaggers of Barberton — grandparents of the defendant's two sons — lashed out at Russell.
''It's hard to believe,'' Robert Jaggers said, ''that a grown man would try to put everything on his son to take the blame for him. It shows you what kind of person he is.''
Lilly Jaggers said she was happy that Russell was sent away for five years because his sons will have that time to restore some semblance of order in their lives.
''There's no excuse for what he did,'' Lilly Jaggers said. ''He finally got caught, and there's no telling what else went on, you know?''
Despite Russell's assertions that he and the teen were romantically involved but stopped short of having sex, Rowlands said case evidence showed the defendant had sex with the teen on at least one occasion.
In an interview with the teen at the Children At Risk Evaluation Center (CARE) at Akron Children's Hospital, she told staff members that Russell had sex with her on more than one occasion.
The interview was admitted into evidence at Russell's jury trial in early May.
Ed Meyer can be reached at 330-996-3784 or emeyer@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Methron, OH
Posted 08:04 AM, 07/03/2009
why cant these sickos find women their age???? man its disgusting and make me not never wanna have a daughter, but i feel this will be happening far far less in the future.
Akron, OH
Posted 11:50 AM, 07/03/2009
I must be blind, or did they neglect to say his age?
Akron, OH
Posted 12:38 PM, 07/03/2009
Lolita!
@ Vanilla Thunder
It did not mention his name but did mention the girls friendship with one of his sons . . . so . . . by low calculations based on the Appalachian possibility that he bore his son when he was 12, that could put his age at 26 or 27 on the low end.
Either way - he is a pathetic creep.
Akron, OH
Posted 12:56 PM, 07/03/2009
Haha @ Appalachian possibility. Yeah, figured that -- just thought it was pertinent and they should of included his age. Not the brightest crayola/creep in the box, either.
North Canton, OH
Posted 02:21 PM, 07/03/2009
If I have the correct public court records, he was born in 1972.
Scottsdale, AZ
Posted 04:18 PM, 07/03/2009
John is 36 years old and is currently where he needs to be. I'm appalled at the behavior he has displayed and I am happy he is finally out of my family's life.
Scottsdale, AZ
Posted 04:21 PM, 07/03/2009
Furthermore, since he tried to blame his son for the photos he should never be able to see his children again. IDIOT
Posted 01:38 AM, 07/08/2009
What a real piece of work this guy is. A natural born looser!
