Huron man sentenced for soliciting sex

Editor's note: This story was updated to correct that Kasper was not incarcerated in jail, but rather given a suspended jail sentence. SANDUSKY — A Huron man who was indicted on multiple felony-level sex crimes, including sex trafficking, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was sentenced to a suspended jail term on Wednesday. At the court hearing, Brad G. Kasper, 60, of the 2200 block of Lakefield Drive, pleaded guilty to an amended count of soliciting, a third-degree misdemeanor. The charge was amended from a count of compelling prostitution, a third-degree felony. Kasper pleaded guilty to the single charge in exchange for the following three charges to be dismissed under the plea agreement: • One count of trafficking in persons — commercial sex acts, a first-degree felony • One count of corrupting another with drugs, a second-degree felony • One count of sexual battery, a third-degree felony Erie County Common Pleas Court Judge Tygh Tone sentenced Kasper the same day to serve about two months in the Erie County Jail — but suspended that sentence on condition of no further criminal conduct. Kasper is additionally required to pay a monthly supervision fee of $25 starting next month, according to court records. Background Erie County Sheriff's Office Detective Sgt. Alexis Harvey, who investigated the case, said her agency began its investigation in April 2024 after the victim, an adult woman, filed the report. Harvey previously said that, due to the woman's financial situation at the time, she allegedly agreed at one point to trade sex to cover her basic living expenses. "There was no physical force of any kind," Harvey said. "She got to a point with the arrangement where she felt like she couldn't leave." Kasper allegedly admitted to police that he and the woman had a "sex exchange arrangement," according to Harvey. According to Kasper's indictment, the alleged crimes occurred between January 2023 and April 2024.