Gilbert Stonerock convicted on unlawful sexual conduct; sentence to maximum 5 years
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A former Greenfield man was convicted on a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor Thursday during a jury trial in Highland County Common Pleas Court, and was sentenced to the maximum of five years in prison.
The jury of six men and six women deliberated for less than 45 minutes before returning the guilty verdict against Gilbert Stonerock, 35, who now lives in Washington C.H.
Assistant Highland County Prosecutor David Henry represented the state, and Stonerock was represented by Hillsboro Attorney Lee Koogler.
Stonerock, who had been indicted by a grand jury in October, had pleaded guilty to the third-degree felony on Jan. 7 and had been scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 17, according to court documents from the Highland County Clerk of Courts Office.
Koogler previously told The Highland County Press that, "We had entered a plea in the case, and believed we had a favorable recommendation, with the state recommending community control. The parties were advised by the court that it would not go along with the recommendation for community control."
Koogler said that with Stonerock now facing prison time, the defendant withdrew the plea.
Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss presided over the trial.
The state called seven witnesses, including the victim, who was 14-years-old at the time of the crime, medical personnel, investigators with the Greenfield Police Department and personnel from Highland County Children Services.
Stonerock took the stand in his own defense.
The jury also returned an additional finding that the defendant was more than 10 years older than the victim.
Once the jury was dismissed, Coss said that a pre-sentence investigation (PSI) had already been conducted due to the previous entering of the guilty, and the court proceeded immediately to sentencing.
Henry said that the state felt that this was the most serious type of the offense, because the defendant was trusted by the victim. He also noted that the victim had a learning disability.
"He took advantage of their trust," Henry said.
Koogler said that Stonerock had no prior felony convictions and asked that the court not sentence him to the maximum on his first offense.
When Coss asked Stonerock if he had anything to say, Stonerock said, "Sorry."
Coss said that upon reviewing the PSI, Stonerock had "indicated to the probation officer that it happened."
From her testimony, victim had an obvious mental impairment, Coss said, and that she made contradictory statements from what she had previously told officials and to what she testified to on Thursday.
"She described what would have been rape or sexual battery," Coss said, regarding the testimony.
Handing down the maximum sentence of five years, Coss said, "There is no doubt this act occurred."
Due to the graphic nature of the victim's testimony, and Stonerock's defense, The Highland County Press has elected to not specify the events that were alleged. However, Coss said that Stonerock's testimony was, "absolutely unbelievable."
"The story you told was ludicrous," Coss said. "Taking all that into consideration, you did have a position of trust. The court does find this is the most serious type of offense."
Stonerock is now classified as a Tier II sex offender, and once released from prison he is required to register every 180 days for 25 years. He will also be subject to post-release control.
He was taken into custody by the Highland County Sheriff's Office and will be transferred to the Corrections Reception Center in Orient.
Following the trial, Henry told The Highland County Press that justice had been served.
"Law enforcement did an excellent job," Henry said. "Justice was done today."
Koogler said that with the prior entering and withdrawal of the guilty plea that he, "knew there would be some evidentiary issues in this case. With the jury coming back as quickly as they did, apparently the evidentiary issues were not significant enough for the jury.
With the issue going to trial, Koogler said he knew that if convicted his client "would receive a significant prison sentence. And he did. I advised him of the pros and cons of going to trial."
A former Greenfield man was convicted on a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor Thursday during a jury trial in Highland County Common Pleas Court, and was sentenced to the maximum of five years in prison.
The jury of six men and six women deliberated for less than 45 minutes before returning the guilty verdict against Gilbert Stonerock, 35, who now lives in Washington C.H.
Assistant Highland County Prosecutor David Henry represented the state, and Stonerock was represented by Hillsboro Attorney Lee Koogler.
Stonerock, who had been indicted by a grand jury in October, had pleaded guilty to the third-degree felony on Jan. 7 and had been scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 17, according to court documents from the Highland County Clerk of Courts Office.
Koogler previously told The Highland County Press that, "We had entered a plea in the case, and believed we had a favorable recommendation, with the state recommending community control. The parties were advised by the court that it would not go along with the recommendation for community control."
Koogler said that with Stonerock now facing prison time, the defendant withdrew the plea.
Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss presided over the trial.
The state called seven witnesses, including the victim, who was 14-years-old at the time of the crime, medical personnel, investigators with the Greenfield Police Department and personnel from Highland County Children Services.
Stonerock took the stand in his own defense.
The jury also returned an additional finding that the defendant was more than 10 years older than the victim.
Once the jury was dismissed, Coss said that a pre-sentence investigation (PSI) had already been conducted due to the previous entering of the guilty, and the court proceeded immediately to sentencing.
Henry said that the state felt that this was the most serious type of the offense, because the defendant was trusted by the victim. He also noted that the victim had a learning disability.
"He took advantage of their trust," Henry said.
Koogler said that Stonerock had no prior felony convictions and asked that the court not sentence him to the maximum on his first offense.
When Coss asked Stonerock if he had anything to say, Stonerock said, "Sorry."
Coss said that upon reviewing the PSI, Stonerock had "indicated to the probation officer that it happened."
From her testimony, victim had an obvious mental impairment, Coss said, and that she made contradictory statements from what she had previously told officials and to what she testified to on Thursday.
"She described what would have been rape or sexual battery," Coss said, regarding the testimony.
Handing down the maximum sentence of five years, Coss said, "There is no doubt this act occurred."
Due to the graphic nature of the victim's testimony, and Stonerock's defense, The Highland County Press has elected to not specify the events that were alleged. However, Coss said that Stonerock's testimony was, "absolutely unbelievable."
"The story you told was ludicrous," Coss said. "Taking all that into consideration, you did have a position of trust. The court does find this is the most serious type of offense."
Stonerock is now classified as a Tier II sex offender, and once released from prison he is required to register every 180 days for 25 years. He will also be subject to post-release control.
He was taken into custody by the Highland County Sheriff's Office and will be transferred to the Corrections Reception Center in Orient.
Following the trial, Henry told The Highland County Press that justice had been served.
"Law enforcement did an excellent job," Henry said. "Justice was done today."
Koogler said that with the prior entering and withdrawal of the guilty plea that he, "knew there would be some evidentiary issues in this case. With the jury coming back as quickly as they did, apparently the evidentiary issues were not significant enough for the jury.
With the issue going to trial, Koogler said he knew that if convicted his client "would receive a significant prison sentence. And he did. I advised him of the pros and cons of going to trial."
[[In-content Ad]]