A 23-year-old Springfield man was sentenced on Monday, August 31, to 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and grooming in Champaign County Common Pleas Court.
Brandon Lambert was classified as a Tier II sex offender and will be required to register for 25 years, with in-person verification every 180 days.
Lambert was originally indicted on four charges, including two counts of fifth-degree felony importuning, fourth-degree felony unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and second-degree misdemeanor grooming.
Lambert was indicted on May 4 on the original charges, and entered a not guilty plea. Then, on July 27, he pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and grooming. The two importuning charges were dismissed with prejudice.
According to the court’s sentencing entry, the case involved sexual conduct with a 15-year-old victim. The court said the victim reported unwanted contact that progressed to sexual conduct, followed by hundreds of text messages seeking additional sexual activity.
The conduct was discovered after searching the victim’s cellphone.
The court said the victim later experienced emotional trauma and psychological harm. The victim was also later reported missing and was located in Alexandria, Virginia, in the presence of a 41-year-old man they had met online.
The sentencing entry also referenced a previous Clark County case involving Lambert and a 14-month-old child. Lambert had been convicted of third-degree felony endangering children after striking the child in the head while babysitting. He had completed community control in that case approximately two weeks before the offenses in the current case occurred.
The court said Lambert cooperated with the investigation but denied the sexual conduct allegations and successfully passed a polygraph examination.
While on bond, Lambert participated in chemical dependency counseling through McKinley Hall and was described as an active participant. He also tested negative for non-prescribed medications and illicit drugs.
Lambert was ordered to serve 10 months in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. He also received 90 days in the Tri-County Regional Jail on the grooming conviction, with both sentences to be served concurrently.
Lambert was ordered to pay a $500 fine and court costs. No restitution was requested.
He will also be subject to five years of mandatory post-release control following his release.
