×

Campbell man pleads guilty to 7 offenses, most involving minors

Gerald C. Hamilton could get 15 to 19 years in prison

Staff photo / Ed Runyan Gerald C. Hamilton, right, with his attorney, Nick Brevetta, during Hamilton’s plea hearing Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. He pleaded guilty to several charges, most of them involving minors.

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County prosecutors are recommending a Campbell man get 15 to 19 years in prison after he pled guilty Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to seven charges, including two counts of felony child endangering.

Gerald C. Hamilton, 49, of Sixth Street, is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 15.

He has been in the Mahoning County jail since June 14, the day he was indicted, according to jail records.

The two child endangering charges accused Hamilton of enticing, coercing or permitting a child under age 18 or a mentally or physically handicapped person to act, model or otherwise participate in, or be photographed for the production, presentation, dissemination or advertisement of any or performance that Hamilton knew or should have known was obscene, was sexually oriented matter or was nudity oriented matter.

Those offenses occurred in 2020 or 2021, according to Hamilton’s indictment.

They are high-level felonies that could result in a combined 16 years in prison.

Hamilton also pleaded guilty to five other charges — two counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material and single counts of corrupting another with drugs, pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor and identity fraud.

Those are lower level felonies punishable by up to a year or 18 months in prison each.

Hamilton was indicted on 36 charges, but 29 charges are being dismissed in exchange for Hamilton’s guilty plea on the seven charges, said Kevin Day, assistant Mahoning County prosecutor.

Day said two of the three victims in the case are satisfied with the plea agreement.

Day said he spoke with a relative of the third victim and that person “did not have any thoughts” on the plea.

Hamilton will be a Tier 2 sex offender as a result of the plea, meaning he will have to register his address with the sheriff in the county where he lives every six months for 25 years after he leaves prison.

Nick Brevetta, Hamilton’s attorney, said he will be arguing for less prison than the amount being recommended by prosecutors.

Day said he could not comment on the case until Hamilton’s sentencing hearing.

Judge R. Scott Krichbaum is presiding over the case.

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today