Boardman cop charged with sex crime

YOUNGSTOWN — A Boardman Township police officer has agreed to plead guilty to a charge of gross sexual imposition.

Steven M. Kendall, 34, of Tippecanoe Road, Canfield, waived an indictment to the fourth-degree felony charge. Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul J. Gains filed a bill of information on the charge today in common pleas court. The case has been assigned to Judge R. Scott Krichbaum. A hearing date has been set for 8 a.m. Thursday.

Gains said the charge carries a penalty of up to 18 months in prison. The prosecutor said Kendall resigned as a patrol officer Monday and won’t be able to serve again as a police officer in Ohio.

He is accused of having sexual contact with a 17-year old girl who "for the purpose of preventing resistance" impaired the girl's judgment or control by "administering intoxicants" on or about Jan. 5, the bill of information says.