Two men sentenced for sexual offenses

One man was sent to prison and the other was placed on probation.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two Mahoning County men were sentenced Friday in common pleas court for sex-related offenses.
Randall Bryant, 29, of Oak Drive, Poland, was sentenced to two years in prison by Judge R. Scott Krichbaum. Bryant had pleaded guilty in July to gross sexual imposition.
Assistant Prosecutor Dawn Krueger said Bryant was on probation from Trumbull County Common Pleas Court for charges that include pandering obscenity involving a minor. Under terms of his probation, he was to have no contact with minors.
Despite that prohibition, Bryant baby-sat a friend's two young sons -- ages 6 and 8 -- at his house in June 2003. Krueger said Bryant photographed the boys' feet and had them lift their shirts so he could photograph their stomachs. He also touched them inappropriately.
"I've made a lot of mistakes in the past," Bryant said, speaking quietly. "I'm not entirely proud of some of things I've done in my life so far."
Plea agreement
Bryant was given credit for 237 days he spent in the county jail awaiting trial. As part of the plea agreement, Krueger said she will not oppose judicial release if Bryant requests it after he serves at least six months in prison.
Judge Krichbaum said the release, if he approves it, would depend on whether Bryant goes directly into a residential treatment program for sex offenders.
In an unrelated case, Judge Maureen A. Cronin placed 21-year-old Terry W. Gerthung Jr. of Fourth Street, Struthers, on probation for three years. Gerthung pleaded guilty in August to a fourth-degree felony count of unlawful sexual contact with a minor.
Defense attorney Joseph Gardner said Gerthung was 21 when he had sex with a 14-year-old girl in April. He said Gerthung was intoxicated and high at the time. He said the girl consented to sex with Gerthung, but Judge Cronin said it was still illegal because he was an adult and she was a juvenile.
She ordered Gerthung to stay off drugs, obtain his GED, maintain a full-time job, get a driver's license and submit to random drug testing while he is on probation. He also is to have no contact with anyone under age 18.
Gerthung faces 18 months in prison if he violates terms of his probation.
bjackson@vindy.com/