Salem man gets plea deal in child-sex case

The man will be sentenced in October.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — A man charged with sex crimes involving a child may be going to prison for as long as six years.

In early June, a Mahoning County grand jury indicted Joshua W. Dent, 18, of Goshen Road, Salem, on charges of gross sexual imposition and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. The underage victim in the case against Dent is 12, according to the indictment.

The case was set to go to trial Monday before Judge John M. Durkin of common pleas court, but Dent agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors.

Dent has agreed to plead guilty to the charge of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony, and the charge of disseminating material harmful to juveniles, a fifth-degree felony.

The maximum punishment for the gross-sexual-imposition charge is five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The maximum punishment for the charge of disseminating harmful material is one year in prison and a fine of $2,500.

According to the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors have agreed to stand silent on the matter of judicial release — formerly known as shock probation — in Dent’s case. A judge has the discretion to grant a convicted felon early release from prison.

Judge Durkin is to sentence Dent on Oct. 21.