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STEUBENVILLE -- A Mingo Junction man pleaded guilty Monday to charges of rape of a minor and was sentenced to life in prison, with parole eligibility after 13 years.
Jeffrey M. Frattini Sr., 64, pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of pandering in sexually oriented material involving a minor, gross sexual imposition and importuning. Jefferson County Common Pleas Judge Michelle Miller ruled Frattini is a Tier III sexual offender, meaning he must report his address to the county sheriff every 90 days for life if he is released from prison.
Frattini's trial was scheduled to begin Thursday, but he met with his defense attorney, Steven Stickles, on Sunday at the county jail and agreed to plead guilty. The plea change and sentencing were then arranged for Monday. Frattini also was represented by defense attorney Bernard Battistel.
Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey Bruzzese said Frattini had sexual conduct with the girl, who was 12 years old when the incidents began in June 2017. Frattini sent a text message to the victim asking her to show him a part of her body, Bruzzese said. The victim's grandmother saw the text and went to the sheriff's department, he said.
Frattini was then arrested and his cell phone was confiscated. He was indicted, but Bruzzese said the sheriff's department believed more had happened. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was able to recover deleted photos and a video from the phone showing additional sexual conduct, he said, and more charges were then filed.
Bruzzese thanked the sheriff's department for its work on the case, and the victim who was "never wavering" in her accounts.
"It is a vile crime committed by a vile man. Life in prison is exactly what he deserves," Bruzzese said during the hearing.
Stickles said the case was pending for a long time, and Frattini had come to the point where he took responsibility for his actions.
"The state used the word vile. I see a man who stepped up and has taken responsibility so the victim can start to heal. He is not a vile man as he sits here today," Stickles said.
Frattini told Miller he was sorry for everything that happened.
"I feel bad for what happened. I am truly sorry for what happened," Frattini said prior to sentencing.
Miller told Frattini he might someday be released from prison, but the victim will suffer for the rest of her life.
"There will be no early release for her," the judge said. "Your conduct was no less than vile. The community will be safer with you behind bars."