The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Man jailed for having sex with a minor
The former member of the U.S. Air Force accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-yearold family member was sentenced June 28 to four months in jail.
Curtis Longbrake, 32, who has no known address, pleaded no contest April 20 in Lorain County Common Pleas Court and subsequently was found guilty of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.
Before the sentence was handed down, Kenneth Crislip, Longbrake’s attorney, said his client was remorseful and the incident and subsequent fallout already has had a negative impact on his client’s life. “He has expressed to me great remorse over what has happened and has a full understanding of the difficulties she is now most likely going to have to go through for at least the immediate future,” Crislip said. “He has lost his employment at the U.S. Air Force. He has been discharged. He will not be receiving any benefits. He is essentially going to have to start all over again.”
Crislip said his client had dedicated his life to serving his country and he’ll now have to find another way to live.
The victim’s mother also spoke before the sentence was pronounced.
She described the rift the incident has placed between the victim’s direct family and the rest of the family. She also described the ramifications of the incident on the victim and her siblings.
The woman also excoriated Longbrake for dishonoring the military saying both she and her husband had served.
“He does not deserve to even be allowed to consider himself as a veteran or a military member due to his crime against our daughter,” she said. “I cannot begin to express the disgrace and disrespect that he chose to bring upon himself and those of us with a military background by doing this to our daughter.”
The woman also allowed Common Pleas Judge Christopher R. Rothgery to read a letter the victim wrote, which he chose not to enter into the public record.
As part of the sentence, Longbrake must register as a Tier II sexual offender, and will serve a three-year community control sanction when he is released from jail.
According to police, the investigation of Longbrake began Sept. 25, 2015, when he sent the victim a package containing an Apple iPod Touch while he was stationed in Japan. The victim’s mother discovered pictures of Longbrake and the victim kissing on the device as well as pictures of Longbrakes exposed penis.
When asked about the photos, police said the victim indicated Longbrake had touched her inappropriately and had been “sexting” her since she was 13. She revealed she had sent naked pictures of herself to Longbrake during that time.