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HUBBARD -- Two men arrested on charges of the same crime in separate incidents involving persons they believed to be minors made court appearances Monday.
Joseph Trader, 34, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor attempted importuning, but also made an appearance on charges of importuning and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in front of Girard Municipal Court Judge Jeffery Adler on Monday.
Albert Klinesmith, 59, also made an appearance on a charge of importuning in front of Adler.
According to a release from Hubbard police Detective Sgt. Michael Banic, members of a civilian group contacted the police department Thursday to report that Trader engaged in communications of a sexual nature with a person he believed to be a minor.
After reviewing the evidence obtained during the investigation, Trader was charged with importuning, a fifth-degree felony; attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony; and attempted importuning, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Trader's bond was set at $75,000, and he remained in jail as of Monday afternoon.
The release states a different civilian group contacted the police department Friday about a separate incident involving Albert Klinesmith, 59, who they said also engaged in communications of a sexual nature with a person he believed to be a minor. After an investigation, Klinesmith was charged with importuning, a fifth-degree felony.
He is being held at the Trumbull County jail without bond.
Banic stressed that the two investigations are separate and not related to one another, with different civilian groups reporting the crimes.
The Hubbard Police Department is asking anyone with additional information related to this case or other potential predators to come forward and contact the Trumbull County Dispatch Center at 330-675-2730.