“The court takes into consideration the age of the victim being nearly 18 years old and you being a young age yourself,” Judge James Stevenson of Shelby County told Wombolt at sentencing. Stevenson replaced Darke County Common Pleas Judge Jonathan Hein, who recused himself.
“The court looks at being tagged as a sex offender as a form of punishment in itself,” Stevenson said.
Darke County Prosecutor Kelly Ormsby asked that Wombolt be sent to prison for three years, pointing out that Wombolt neglected his responsibility as an officer to pursue the relationship with the teenager.
Wombolt pleaded guilty in January, just before opening statements in his jury trial. Wombolt agreed to a plea deal that dropped two sexual battery counts in exchange for his guilty plea.
Wombolt will be required to register as a sex offender for the next 25 years. If he violates the terms of probation he could face the maximum of five years in prison. Wombolt is to report to jail Wednesday night. He is eligible for work release, if the county adult probation department OKs it.
UPDATE @ 2:28 p.m. (Jan. 20): After the jury was seated and attorneys gave their opening statements, prosecutors met with the defense during the lunch hour and Wombolt has agreed to a plea deal.
He is to plead guilty to two counts of sexual battery. In return, the other two counts will be dropped, WHIO’s Steve Baker reports.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 2.
FIRST REPORT
Jury selection got underway this morning in the trial of a Darke County auxiliary deputy facing sex charges involving a Greenville High School student.
Bryan Wombolt, 27, was indicted by a grand jury on four counts of sexual battery after his arrest in February 2014.
Wombolt, fired a day after the allegations surfaced, was working part time for the sheriff’s office as a school resource officer at the high school.
The allegations involved a 17-year-old female student there.
Jury selection is expected to take two days.
Judge James Stevenson, visiting from the Shelby County Common Pleas Court, is presiding.