Ex-cop pleads guilty in teen sex case
A Liberty BUTLER COUNTY — Twp. resident and former Colerain Twp. police officer pleaded guilty Monday to soliciting sex from a teenage girl.
Robert Brinkman, 31, of the 4400 block of Squaw Valley Drive, was indicted in July by a Butler County grand jury for importuning, a fifth-degree felony; tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; and contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a child, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Brinkman’s trial was scheduled to begin next week in Butler County Common Pleas Court, but he entered the guilty plea to importuning and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in Judge Greg Howard’s courtroom. The third charge was dismissed.
Officers were contacted July 6 by a mother concerning messages her 13-yearold daughter had received via Snapchat, according to a Monroe police report. Brinkman repeatedly asked the teen to send sexual or revealing photos to him, according to the indictment.
Howard set sentencing for Dec. 12. Brinkman faces a maximum of 12 months in prison. He was declared a Tier I sex offender, requiring him to register his residence once a year for 15 years.
The victim was in the courtroom along with family for the plea hearing.
Brinkman is free from jail and is wearing a GPS ankle monitor. Howard also ordered him to not possess a firearm, to not have contact with the victim, and to not have contact with anyone under the age of 18.
Brinkman was initially suspended from his job with Colerain Twp. pending outcome of an internal investigation, but has been terminated.
(Robert ) Brinkman repeatedly asked the teen to send sexual or revealing photos to him, according to the indictment.