A local man has been placed on community control after pleading guilty to having sexual conduct with a 14 year-old.
Nicholas Adam Dunbar, 21, of 29 Maple St., Richwood, has been sentenced to five years of community control and ruled as a Tier 2 sex offender. In September he pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said Dunbar and the victim, a 14-year-old girl were in a relationship together.
According to court documents, in October 2014, the victim was at the Richwood home of a mutual friend. In an interview with Richwood Police investigators, the girl said she and the defendant, who was 19 at the time, went into a bedroom to watch a cartoon movie. Everyone else was in the living room of the home. She said she and Dunbar were laying on the floor watching the movie when he began to touch her, over her clothes at first and then under.
She said the activity stopped because she had to go home and the owner of the home told Dunbar he needed to come to the living room.
The girl told investigators there were two other incidents between October and February. The girl said Dunbar kissed and touched her both over and under her clothes. During that time, the girl turned 15 years old.
Phillips said that eventually the girl’s mother made the pair end the relationship because of the age difference.
“After it ended, there were some complaints that he just would not let her alone,” Phillips said.
After the incidents came to light, the victim spoke with Richwood Police Department. She was taken to Nationwide Children’s Hospital for further interviews.
When police questioned Dunbar, he admitted the activity but told police the girl said she was 15 years old.
In exchange for Dunbar’s guilty plea, prosecutors recommended a community control sentence. He could have faced as many as 18 months in prison.
“The legislature has pretty much said they want these charges dealt with on a community level,” Phillips said.
The prosecutor said Dunbar does not have any criminal history. He said a presentence investigation indicated the case did not warrant prison time.
In addition to the five-years of probation, Dunbar must also register as a sex offender every 180 days for the next 25 years.
If Dunbar violates any of the terms of his probation, he could be sentenced to 17 months in prison.
“In the state of Ohio, the age of consent is 16 and it is incumbent on adults to act like adults even if they are young adults,” Phillips said.