Child rapist sentenced to minimum of 15 years

By Ed Runyan

Federal officials also may pursue charges against him.

WARREN — Timothy M. Gaut, the man captured in his Hubbard home while he was on the phone with undercover police officers conducting an Internet sting operation, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

During the course of the sting operation, Gaut showed officers a streaming video of him engaging in sexual conduct with a 6-year-old girl, which caused officers to obtain a search warrant and rush to Gaut’s house to arrest him.

Gaut, 34, of Gary Drive, pleaded guilty to 21 sex charges and received his sentence from Judge W. Wyatt McKay in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

Among the charges were nine counts of rape, any one of which could have landed him in prison for life.

The rape charges pertained to attacks on a girl between age three and six, including the rape Gaut videotaped and showed to the undercover officers.

Gaut also was convicted of gross sexual imposition, importuning and pandering obscenity.

Hubbard police arrested Gaut in the home he shared with his parents and the girl on Jan. 28, 2007.

A member of the Fairfax County (Va.) Police Department’s Internet Sex Crimes Against Children Task Force posed as the stepfather of an 11-year-old girl, while a federal officer posed as the 11-year-old girl.

During the course of online chats and phone conversations, Gaut inquired about the girl’s sexual experiences and asked if he could perform various sex acts on her.

But when he sent the video of the attack on the girl, federal officers contacted Hubbard police immediately.

Hubbard officers entered the house by talking to Gaut’s mother, entered Gaut’s room, found him on the telephone, talked to the federal agent on the other end, and arrested Gaut.

The 6-year-old was sleeping on the bed near the defendant.

Michael Burnett, an assistant county prosecutor, said the girl suffered devastating psychological damage as a result of the assaults and will require ongoing counseling.

The prosecutor’s office will oppose Gaut’s release from prison in 15 years.

“To me 15 years is not long enough in this case,” Burnett said.

He added federal officials are also interested in possibly pursuing additional charges against Gaut now that the state has completed its prosecution.

Gaut has been in Trumbull County Jail since his 2007 arrest. The prosecution of his case was delayed by his unsuccessful attempt to show he was not competent to stand trial.

runyan@vindy.com