DaytonDailyNews.com

TROY — A former Milton-Union schools assistant marching band director pleaded no contest Friday, May 23, to two felony counts of attempted gross sexual imposition for sexual activity last year with girls in West Milton.

Anthony Spahr, 29, of Troy, waived a county grand jury's consideration of allegations against him. He pleaded to the fifth-degree felony charges as part of a plea deal with Miami County prosecutors, and he was found guilty.

Friday's hearing was the second time Spahr pleaded to felony charges for the activity with girls ages 16 and 17. Originally charged with sexual battery, third-degree felonies, he pleaded no contest in April to two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, fourth-degree felonies, and was found guilty.

Spahr later was allowed to withdraw those pleas after it was disclosed that the sheriff's deputy who investigated the allegations against him was accused of sexual misconduct with a former Newton High School student.

Deputy Bryce Adams has since resigned from the sheriff's office and his job as a school resource officer in the Newton and Milton-Union schools. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is investigating the allegations against him.

Spahr answered questions Friday in Common Pleas Court from Judge Jeffrey Welbaum, but made no further comment.

He faces up to one year in prison and a $2,500 fine on each of the two charges at sentencing July 18. The original sexual battery charges carried up to five years in prison each, while the unlawful sexual conduct with a minor charges each carried maximum 18-month prison terms.

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors will recommend that any prison sentences run concurrently and will make no comment at sentencing.

Spahr, who had been on house arrest since Christmas Eve, was released earlier this month on his own recognizance. That bond was continued Friday until sentencing. He also will be required to register as a sex offender.

Prosecutors were not available after Friday's hearing to comment on the effect of the allegations against Adams on the latest plea bargain with Spahr.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2292 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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