Fremont man sentenced for attempted child sex crimes

MONROEVILLE — A Fremont man was sentenced to prison last month after pleading guilty to attempted sex crimes against a child. At a court hearing on Sept. 16, Travis J. Brown, 39, of the 1300 block of Franklin Ave., was convicted on the following charges: • One count of importuning, a second-degree felony • One count of compelling prostitution, a third-degree felony • One amended count of attempted gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony Brown pleaded guilty to the three charges the same day in exchange for one additional count of importuning, a third-degree felony, and one count of attempt to commit an offense, a second-degree felony, to be dismissed. Huron County Common Pleas Court Judge James Conway sentenced Brown to serve six to nine years in prison. Brown additionally received credit for approximately three and a half months served in jail and will be placed on a mandatory term of five years post-release control, according to court records. Under the terms of his sentencing, Brown is classified as a Tier 2 sex offender, which means that he must provide verification of his home address to the local sheriff approximately every six months for a period of 25 years. Background The investigation into Brown began in June after the Huron County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with a human trafficking task force based in Lorain County, arrested him after investigating reports that Brown was soliciting sex from underage girls in exchange for vapes, alcohol and other contraband, according to a news release from the Huron County Sheriff's Office. Brown, who worked as a food delivery driver, used that position and social media to contact underage girls and offer them contraband in exchange for sexual activity, the release states. Brown was arrested in Monroeville after traveling to Huron with the belief that he was going to have sex with a 12-year-old and a 17-year-old girl. When confronted by the undercover detectives who were posing as the minors, Brown allegedly told them that he intended to have sex with them in the back of his SUV. When arrested, detectives found a makeshift bed and linens prepared in the vehicle, the release states. "Brown was actively targeting and attempting to exploit young girls in Huron County and surrounding jurisdictions," Sheriff Todd Corbin said. "Our investigators acted quickly to intercept him. Now that he's in custody, our focus shifts to identifying any past victims."