Man pleads guilty in underwear case

CINCINNATI (AP) — An Ohio man has pleaded guilty to charges he fooled parents into letting him be alone with their children so he could sexually touch them while pretending to be an underwear market researcher.

Ben Hawkins, 44, of Springfield Township in suburban Cincinnati, could receive up to 44 years in prison at his Jan. 29 sentencing.

Hamilton County prosecutors say Hawkins targeted boys and girls between ages 9 and 16. They say he arranged to meet parents and children at schools, hospitals or their homes and told parents he needed to measure underwear for research.