Huron man and woman sentenced in child sex case

SANDUSKY — A Huron man and woman were sentenced on felony charges related to a child sex offense investigation. Stephen Thom, 46, and Michelle Thom, 51, were sentenced Thursday in Erie County's common pleas court by Judge Roger Binette. Stephen Thom was sentenced on three felony charges — gross sexual imposition, pandering obscenity involving a minor and illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material — and received 10 years in prison, according to court records. Michelle Thom was placed on community control sanctions for five years. Stephen Thom previously pleaded guilty to three felonies related to allegations of having sexual contact with an underage girl and having images of the same girl undressed on his computer and cellphone. Michelle Thom also pleaded guilty previously to attempted tampering with evidence, a felony. According to her sentencing form, Michelle Thom must complete counseling programs as a part of her community control sanctions. She's also not allowed to leave Ohio without prior consent from the adult parole authority. Michelle Thom faces a one-year, six-month prison sentence if she doesn't comply with her sanctions, her sentencing form states. Stephen Thom's 10-year sentence was something agreed to by both the prosecution and defense, his guilty plea form states. His attorney, Meredith O'Brien, of the Bailey Legal Group in Sandusky, wrote in a sentencing memorandum the decade-long prison term was "appropriate and satisfactory." "He acknowledges the seriousness of the offenses to which he has been charged and ultimately pleaded to," O'Brien wrote. The maximum sentence Stephen Thom could have received was 21 years. He's now classified as a Tier II sex offender, meaning he has to register his address every 180 days for 25 years after his release, according to the sentencing sheet. He'll serve his prison sentence at the Lorain Correctional Institution in Grafton, Ohio, and will get credit for 23 days served in the Erie County Jail.