LEBANON, Ohio -- A 49-year-old Madeira man was sentenced to 48 months in prison Thursday after he pleaded guilty to sexual conduct with a minor.
James C. Erion made contact with a 15-year-old victim through the Whisper app in the summer of 2014, Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell announced. Erion and the victim had an online relationship through texting and the apps Whisper and Kik.
Erion and the victim began meeting in person that December, according to Fornshell. They engaged in sexual conduct and exchanged explicit photos.
Erion gave the victim a phone so they could communicate secretly, which the victim's mother discovered in the fall of 2015 and reported to Clearcreek Township police, according to Fornshell. Police and the FBI searched Erion's home and place of employment.
"The Erion case is yet another reminder of the dangers our young people face as a result of social media and modern technology," Fornshell said. "As parents, we must stay diligent in warning them about dangers that exist on the other end of the cell phone screen."
Erion pleaded guilty in January to sexual conduct with a minor and pandering obscenity involving a minor. He was sentenced Thursday. In addition to the 48-month sentence, he will have to register as a Tier II sexual offender and report every 180 days for 25 years.
