Know more. Vito J. Abruzzino, Prosecuting Attorney, Atty. Shelley M. Scott R. Cochran, for Defendant-Appellant. Granberry appeals his convictions entered after a bench trial in the Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.
Appellant raises four assignments of error challenging the sufficiency of the evidence on various elements of the offenses. These arguments are without merit. For the following reasons, Appellant's convictions are upheld, and the trial court's judgment is affirmed. The February 8, indictment included charges for compelling prostitution a third-degree felony , attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor a fourth-degree felony where the offender is 10 or more years older , engaging in prostitution a first-degree misdemeanor , and possession of criminal tools a fifth-degree felony where the device is intended for use in a felony.
A charge of importuning count one was dismissed by the state prior to trial. At the bench trial, the state presented the testimony of an East Palestine police detective who was tasked with conducting demand reduction operations for the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force.
In his twenty years of experience in undercover online operations, he learned to use terminology unique to the sex trade industry. When advertising during a sting operation involving a juvenile sex worker, the detective does not initially specify age or sexual services, as he believes this would cause service seekers to suspect a law enforcement sting.
After a potential client texts to request services, the detective reveals the juvenile's age early in the conversation to avoid a perceived "bond" forming before finding out the juvenile is under sixteen; he hopes the would-be client will back out after the age of the juvenile is disclosed.
