Sex offender sentenced for failure to register his address

LISBON — A man has been sentenced to five years in prison for being a sexually oriented offender who failed to register his residence with authorities.

A Columbiana County Common Pleas Court returned the verdict on Tuesday.

The same jury found Vernon E. Ballard, 33, of West Main Street, New Waterford, innocent of a charge of gross sexual imposition.

Ballard was accused of having a girl, then age 7, who was living in a nearby apartment, touch him May 18, 2007.