Jordan Dieffenbach reads a statement before he is sentenced to nine years in prison for importuning and the attempted rape of a 12-year-old. (Photo by Michele Newbanks)

A Kent man who met a 12-year-old girl in Little Hocking for sex was sentenced Monday morning to nine years in prison.

Jordan Ross Dieffenbach, 25, of 1366 Elizabeth Court, Kent, was sentenced to two years in prison for the third-degree felony importuning, which is the act of soliciting a minor under the age of 13 to engage in a sexual activity, and seven years in prison for the second-degree felony attempted rape.

He pleaded guilty to the charges in February.

He was indicted in July 2020 on one count of importuning, a third-degree felony; one count of rape, a first-degree felony; and one count of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony.

He was again indicted in August 2020 on three counts of pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person, all fourth-degree felonies. These charges stem from law enforcement finding child pornography on his phone after his arrest in July 2020.

As part of the plea agreement, Dieffenbach pleaded guilty as charged to importuning and to an amended rape charge. The gross sexual imposition charges from the first indictment were dismissed, as well as the pandering sexually oriented matter from the second indictment.

Dieffenbach was arrested in July 2020 after convincing the minor to meet him in the parking lot of Little Hocking Elementary School.

Dieffenbach gave the victim’s 8-year-old sister a $20 bill and told her to leave and not tell anyone, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported. The 8-year-old sister ran home, which was nearby, and told her mother what was happening, the sheriff’s report stated.

The prosecutor’s office noted that the apparent minors in the images found are not photos or still video images of the Washington County minor. Defense attorney Rolf Baumgartel argued that Dieffenbach was meeting the minor for consensual sex, but Washington County Assistant Prosecutor David Silwani said having sex with someone under the age of 13 was statutory rape under Ohio law.

“Someone under the age of 13 can’t consent to sex,” Silwani said.

The state asked for a prison term of 11 years, saying Dieffenbach drove down from Kent to “sexually assault this girl.”

Silwani said the victim wasn’t the only young girl he was talking to on Instagram.

The victim’s mother told the court about the troubles the girl has had since the incident. She said the girl has been “in and out of juvenile hall” and is now in a residential treatment facility because of the trauma. She added the girl will be there from six months to a year.

“I want to see justice, especially for other kids, not just mine,” she said.

Baumgartel called Dieffenbach’s former counselor, Heidi O’Toole, as a witness. She said she worked with Dieffenbach for two years and it’s been six years since she’s seen him. O’Toole said although Dieffenbach had very supportive parents, he had suffered “prolonged abuse.”

She gave statistics and from knowledge of the defendant, that the longer he is in prison, the more likely he is to reoffend. She said he was also at a higher risk of being victimized in prison.

Baumgartel said his client “wasn’t able to appreciate the seriousness of the offense.”

“A 12-year sentence would do more harm than good,” he said, asking the court for a sentence of four or five years.

In his own defense, Dieffenbach said he was very sorry for his actions and he has learned his lesson.

Common Pleas Judge John Halliday said Dieffenbach had credit for 644 days of service. His pre-sentence investigation indicated the defendant showed no remorse, Halliday said.

He then sentenced Dieffenbach to 24 months in prison for the importuning charge, and seven years in prison on the attempted rape charge, to run consecutively.

Dieffenbach will be listed as a Tier III sex offender and received a five years mandatory post release control.

***

At a Glance

¯ Kent resident Jordan Ross Dieffenbach was sentenced to nine years in prison.

¯ He pleaded guilty to importuning and the attempted rape of a 12-year-old in 2020.

¯ He will be listed as a Tier III sex offender.

Source: Washington County Court of Common Pleas