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Man pleads guilty to sex crime

Co-defendant in York Township finance case sentenced

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — This week saw a last-minute guilty plea in a sex crime, and the sentence of a co-defendant in a York Township theft in office case in Belmont County Common Pleas Court.

Derrick Ellington, 41, of 4415 Noble St., Bellaire, was scheduled for trial Tuesday before Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Vavra, but instead entered pleas of guilty to unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a felony of the third degree, and two counts of disseminating matter harmful to a juvenile, a felony of the fifth degree.

Ellington’s sentencing hearing was set for Sept. 9. A pre-sentence investigation and victim impact statement were ordered by Vavra, according to assistant prosecutor Kevin Flanagan.

According to prosecution, the events took place September 2018 in Bellaire. The victim was a 13-year-old girl and Ellington was a family friend. Charges stemmed from allegations that Ellington shared photographs of himself with the victim. The victim’s mother reportedly discovered “suspicious” material.

In an unrelated case, Ryan Lee, 49, of Powhatan Point, was sentenced Monday by Vavra. Ryan Lee is the husband of Dawn Lee, former fiscal officer for York Township and the York Water Authority, now serving a sentence of 10 years, having entered pleas of guilty in March to two counts of theft in office and one count of tampering with records, third-degree felonies, and two counts of failing to remit withholding taxes, fifth-degree felonies.

Ryan Lee pleaded guilty in July to one count of receiving stolen property, and attempted failure to file a 2014 tax return. Vavra imposed sentences of 97 days and six months in jail, to be served concurrently. Lee had allegedly obtained thousands of dollars of improper payroll dispersments from York Township and the Water Authority from his wife.

The public integrity officer with the Ohio State Auditor’s office assigned to prosecute the case, had said in September of 2015 York Township was found to be “unauditable” by the state.

Dawn Lee has made full restitution of $123,000 for funds and associated costs.

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