NEWS

Newark man gets 12 years in prison in child sex case

Bethany Bruner
Reporter

NEWARK – A Newark man will spend up to the next 12 years in prison because of the "brave young men" who reported what happened to them, Assistant Licking County Prosecutor Chris Reamer said.

Jesse Slone, 53, last known address 371 Buckingham St., was sentenced Tuesday by Judge David Branstool. Slone was found guilty earlier this month of 17 counts of misconduct related to four victims. The charges included endangering children, corrupting another with drugs, disseminating matters harmful to juveniles and gross sexual imposition.

A separate case involving two rape counts was dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Slone was convicted of engaging in sexual conduct with two 11-year-old boys between June and September 2010 and taking photographs of them.

Reamer said the family of one of the boys became concerned about behavior Slone was exhibiting and questioned the child, who disclosed the conduct.

Police were investigating Slone in 2010, but the investigation stalled when Slone reportedly left the state. The investigation resumed in 2012 when Slone was back in Ohio, but no charges were filed at that time.

Between November 2013 and March 2014, Slone engaged in sexual conduct with two 12-year-old boys, Reamer said.

The behavior included demonstrations of how to use sex toys, encouraging the boys to use the toys in front of Slone and watching the boys shower, Reamer said.

Slone also reportedly showed the boys pornographic websites and allowed them to smoke marijuana in the home.

Slone did not say anything in court Tuesday besides a brief "I'm just sorry," when asked by the judge if he had a statement.

One of the victims wrote a statement, which was read by a third party in court, saying the victim was taking back his life and hoped Slone remembered who was responsible for putting him in prison. None of the victims appeared in court.

Slone's attorney, Kristin Burkett, asked Branstool to stick with the 12-year sentence, which was jointly recommended as part of a plea deal. She said Slone had accepted responsibility and was willing to accept the consequences of his actions.

Slone will be eligible for judicial release after serving six years of the sentence. Reamer said as part of the plea deal, prosecutors will not take a position on judicial release of Slone if he has a good record while in prison.

Slone will also be required to register as a Tier II sexual offender upon his release, meaning he will have to notify officials of his address every 180 days for 25 years.