Man pleads guilty to attempted child sex crimes

NORWALK — A Troy, Ohio, man recently pleaded guilty in an attempt to solicit sex from a 13-year-old girl. On May 7, Ryan J. Mason, 24, pleaded guilty to the following charges, according to a Huron County grand jury: • Two counts of importuning, both felonies • One count of attempt to commit an offense, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony • One count of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a fifth-degree felony Mason pleaded guilty to the four charges in exchange for two additional counts of importuning, each a fifth-degree felony, and one count of attempt to commit an offense, rape, a second-degree felony, to be dismissed, according to court records. Mason could potentially be classified as a Tier 2 sex offender, which means that he must verify home and work addresses every six months for 25 years. Mason is scheduled to be sentenced at 8:45 a.m. on June 25. Background Mason was indicted in February 2024 by a Huron County grand jury on seven felony charges. The alleged crimes occurred on or about Feb. 18. Mason allegedly communicated with a deputy from the Huron County Sheriff's Office, who was posing as a "13-year-old girl," according to court documents from the Norwalk Municipal Court. While communicating with the deputy, Mason allegedly requested that the law enforcement officer travel to Mason's residence "in order to engage in sexual activity." Old insanity plea Before pleading guilty on May 7, Mason previously entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Mason's lawyers asked the court to order "an evaluation of (Mason's) competency to stand trial" and determine his "mental health condition at the time of the alleged offenses," according to a court document dated April 3. "This motion is made as a result of mental health and defect concerns made by the defendant as well as his mother," court records state. "Further, counsel is entering a written plea of not guilty by reason of insanity on his behalf, and an evaluation will be necessary to address this issue." It's unclear if a mental health evaluation was conducted.