Missing woman’s boyfriend pleads guilty to promoting prostitution

The boyfriend of a Middletown woman missing for four months has pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution.

Eric Sexton, 48, of Wilshire Drive in Franklin, pleaded guilty Monday in Butler County Common Pleas Court.

He was sentenced by Judge Michael Oster to nine months in prison and was classified a Tier I sex offender, meaning he will have to register with the sheriff in the county he resides once per year for 15 years when released from prison. He was given credit for 136 days he has served in the Butler County Jail awaiting trial.

Sexton was arrested by Middletown police shortly after he reported Lindsay Bogan, 30, missing in September. He was indicted by a grand jury in November.

According to the facts of he case read during Monday’s hearing, Sexton “supervised, managed and/or controlled the prostitution activities of Lindsay Bogan by offering her sexual services in exchange for money to others.”

Sexton said nothing during the hearing, but his attorney, David Washington, said his client wants to accept responsibility and move on with his life.

“He does understand his actions were inappropriate,” Washington said. “He is still concerned about the well being of the young lady involved … he does care for her deeply.”

After the hearing, Washington said Sexton does not know the whereabouts of Bogan.

“If he knew where she was, he’d tell (the police),” Washington said. “He had nothing to do with her disappearance.”

Sexton reported Bogan missing Sept. 14 and said he last saw her the day before getting into a silver Dodge Durango at the corner of Central Avenue and Baltimore Street in downtown Middletown. Sexton said he and Bogan, the mother of their 9-month-old daughter, were planning to get married.

Sexton told the Journal-News in September that Bogan was not a prostitute, but when he reported her missing to Middletown police, he said they “engaged in prostitution” activity, according to a police report.

Bogan is described as 5-foot-6, 118 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. She has a rainbow tattoo on her hip and a star tattoo on her shoulder.

Anyone with information about Bogan’s whereabouts is asked to call Lt. Jim Cunningham at 513-425-7747.

A $2,000 reward is being offered by the Greater Cincinnati Crime Stoppers Wheel of Justice Fund. Anyone with information is urged to call 513-352-3040. Callers remain anonymous and are identified by code numbers, not names.

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