YOUNGSTOWN — Darrell R. Davis, 60, of Alpha Street in East Liverpool was sentenced to one year in prison and five years probation Thursday for arranging to have sex with who he thought was a 15-year-old girl last May.

Instead, the person he was communicating with was a member of law enforcement posing as a 15-year-old girl. This was part of a sex sting involving men looking for sex with underage females on the internet.

Davis is one of about 15 men snared in a sting carried out by the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies that are part of the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force.

Caitlyn Andrews, assistant Mahoning County prosecutor, told Judge John Durkin that Davis was aware of the girl’s purported age during his discussion with her and talked openly with her about having sex.

Davis’ attorney, Brian Tareshawty, told the judge Davis has only one low-level misdemeanor conviction dating back 23 years and was honorably discharged from the military after serving in Operation Desert Storm.

Davis pleaded guilty in January to one count of attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and importuning. Davis will have to register as a sex offender for 25 years.

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