BARBERTON, Ohio — A 30-year-old Barberton man has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to molesting three underage girls he knew.
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William Norman of South Van Buren Street in Barberton received the sentencing from Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Tammi O’Brien. The sentencing comes after Norman previously pled guilty to the following charges:
- Three Counts of Rape – Felonies of the 1st Degree
- Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor – a Felony of the 4th Degree
- Pandering Sexually Oriented Material Involving a Minor – a Felony of the 4th Degree
- Corrupting Another with Drugs – a Felony of the 2nd Degree
Prosecutors alleged that Norman committed the crime over a three-year period, in which he engaged in sexual activity with and provided drugs to an underage teenager he knew. Additionally, prosecutors say that Norman raped two young girls he knew and took sexually explicit pictures of them during the same three-year period.
“This is one of the most disturbing cases I have ever seen in my time as Summit County Prosecutor. William Norman is a depraved, sick man, and I expect he will spend the rest of his life in prison,” Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh said in a statement. “The survivors in this case have a long recovery ahead. They are strong and thankfully Mr. Norman can no longer hurt them.”
As a part of his sentencing, Norman won't be eligible for parole until he serves the first 35 years of his sentence. He has also been designated as a Tier III sex offender. Should he be released, he will be required to register with the local sheriff every 90 days for the rest of his life.
