A man who pled guilty last month to engaging in sexual conduct with a 15-year-old girl has been placed on community control, though the judge said he had “a real problem” with the case.
Donald G. Hostetter, 37, Hillsboro, last month pled guilty to fourth-degree felony unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
According to the indictment, the female was 15 at the time of the offense, a month away from turning 16, the age after which the same conduct would be a misdemeanor offense.
On Thursday, the now 17-year-old female asked the court not to send Hostetter to prison and to lift the no contact order previously placed on the defendant, with whom the female now has a child.
Hostetter said he knows what he did was wrong, but he “can’t take it back.”
“I have a real problem with this case,” Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss said, adding that he also had a problem with the attitudes of those involved and with Hostetter “not understanding what (his) actions have done.”
The judge said that while it “certainly appears” the relationship was consensual, he said it was an illegal relationship.
Coss said that if Hostetter goes to prison, the taxpayers are not only footing the bill for him, but also his three children. Hostetter is employed, and he told the court Thursday that his job is waiting for him.
Ultimately, Coss sentenced Hostetter to community control instead of prison “not because I approve of your conduct, but because the taxpayers will be less burdened.”
Hostetter was further ordered to have no contact with any female under the age of 18 unless it is supervised by an adult previously approved by the Adult Parole Authority. He will be required to register as a Tier II sex offender, meaning he must register every 180 days for 25 years.
In other hearings, Kimra A. Snyder, 25, Greenfield, was sentenced to community control on drug charges. She pled guilty to aggravated trafficking in drugs and trafficking in drugs in the vicinity of a school, both fourth-degree felonies, last month.
Snyder on Thursday was ordered to remain in the custody of the sheriff’s office until going to treatment.
Billy Floyd McClain, 35, Lynchburg, was sentenced to community control and ordered to complete counseling. He pled guilty to fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs in April.
Christina Davis, 23, Hillsboro, pled guilty to fourth-degree felony breaking and entering and was granted intervention in lieu of conviction.
While she is engaged in the program, all further prosecution on the matter ceases. If Davis successfully completes the program, the felony charge will be dismissed.
Reach Angela Shepherd at 937-393-3456, ext. 1681, or on Twitter @wordyshepherd.
