Man who confessed 26 years after sex crimes gets six years suspended

A man who confessed to a sex crime while interviewing for a job with the Ohio Highway Patrol now has six years of imprisonment over his head.

Todd Feasel was sentenced Monday to 36 months of community control with 72 months in prison suspended.

Richland County Common Pleas Judge Phil Naumoff tacked on five years of post-release control that the court could enact should Feasel be sent to prison during his probation period.

“I will tell you this, Mr. Feasel,” Naumoff said during Monday's sentencing, “this is one of the most unique cases I have come across.”

Sexual assault happened in 1996

The crimes were more than a quarter of a century old when the 49-year-old Reynoldsburg man confessed to them in November.

Troopers had been giving Feasel a polygraph test during his employment screening when the question “Have you ever been convicted of, or gotten away with, a crime?” weighed heavy on his conscious.

He could have said “Yes” and walked away, but Feasel instead chose to give troopers the details.

The man admitted that while working as a counselor at Richland Hospital in 1996, he had digitally penetrated a 15year-old patient.

Prosecutors contacted the woman, and she confirmed the assault.

Feasel pleaded guilty in May to four counts of fourth-degree felony unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. In exchange for that plea, prosecutors dismissed two counts of rape.

‘Complex’ case requires ramifications

The judge on Monday called the case “complex,” and said he was glad Feasel had finally chosen to come clean. But still, a crime had been committed and that could not be overlooked.

“You didn't have to admit to anything, and you did,” Naumoff said. “I give you credit for that much, and that's where it ends.”

The judge reminded Feasel that he had been in a position of authority when he had assaulted the girl. He was 23 at the time, and she was only 15. They had been in a hospital.

“You were young yourself at the time, but that still doesn't make this any better,” Naumoff said.

Fortunately, the judge said, the man has lived a good life since, and has never been in trouble aside from this case. He has a wife and three adult children.

“You've probably tainted your career over this,” Naumoff said. “I'm sure it's affected your family life.”

Six years in prison suspended

The judge asked the man if he had anything to say before being sentenced.

“No,” Feasel said. “I don't think there's anything I want to add.”

The man will not see the inside of the prison so long as he stays out of trouble and successfully completes his three years of community control.

Should he mess up, though, the judge could put him behind bars for as many as six years, then keep him on post-release control for another five years.

Naumoff ordered Feasel be declared a Tier I sex offender, which means that once a year for the next 15 years he will be required to register with the county sheriff wherever he lives.

Feasel was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine for his crimes, and will forever be forbidden from having any sort of contact with his victim. ztuggle@gannett.com 419-564-3508

Twitter: @zachtuggle