Man gets 4 years for sex with girl, 15

6/13/2003

VAN WERT, Ohio - A Missouri man has been sentenced to four years in prison for having sexual contact with a 15-year-old girl.

Jesse Stoneking, Jr., 37, of Springfield was sentenced by Judge Charles Steele in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday after he was found guilty of sexual battery, a fifth-degree felony.

Van Wert police said Stoneking was involved in sexual conduct with the girl while living in the city in October, 1998. Stoneking said in court the activity was consensual, but the victim testified that he used threats to coerce her.

After sentencing, Stoneking was classified as a sexual predator.