Man sentenced for attempted child sex crimes

NORWALK — A Troy, Ohio, man was recently sentenced after previously pleading guilty to attempting to solicit sex from a 13-year-old girl. At a court hearing on June 23, Ryan J. Mason, 24, was convicted on two counts of importuning, third and fifth-degree felonies; one count of attempt to commit an offense — unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony; and one count of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a fifth-degree felony. Mason pleaded guilty to the four charges on May 7 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. Huron County Common Pleas Court Judge James Conway sentenced Mason to serve three years in prison, according to court records. Mason also received credit for serving approximately four months in jail, according to court records. Under the terms of his sentencing, Mason is classified as a Tier 2 sex offender, which means that he must verify home and work addresses every six months for 25 years. Mason will additionally be placed on a mandatory term of five years post-release control, according to court records. Background Mason was initially indicted in February by a Huron County grand jury on seven felony charges. According to court documents from the Norwalk Municipal Court, the 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." 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." 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.