New Middletown man sentenced in sex case

Fondled two children in Hubbard, will be labeled Tier 2 offender

WARREN -- A New Middletown man received a four-year prison sentence after being convicted of gross sexual imposition involving the fondling of two minors in Hubbard Township.

The children's grandmother told him in court that he can't be forgiven and should stay in jail.

Jeremy D. Cremeans, 35, of 10710 Unity Road, New Middletown, appeared with his lawyer Charles G. Mickens this week as Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Ronald J. Rice labeled him a Tier 2 sexual offender. After Cremeans is released, he will be required to register his address with the sheriff's office twice per year for 25 years.

The plea deal Cremeans agreed to on May 20 headed off a scheduled June 14 trial. The state got two guilty pleas for gross sexual imposition counts and dropped two other similar charges.

Cremeans apologized to the victims and the court for his actions.

"I let a lot of people down," the defendant said.

The victims' grandmother delivered a victim impact statement, saying the defendant's actions are unforgivable.

"You should remain in jail, because in many ways, that's the sentence you created for them (the victims)," the grandmother told Cremeans. "These tears are not because you have defeated us, but they are there to show how God has covered us by his grace."

The case was investigated based upon incidents dating back to July 2020 in Hubbard Township, according to court records.

Hubbard Township police detective Michael Orr said the case involved "inappropriate touches" to the victims -- a boy, 7, and girl, 9 -- at a home on Stoneybrook Drive.

The police report shows the incidents took place between July 1 and 14, and involved a woman's ex-boyfriend lifting the shirt of her 9-year-old daughter and fondling her bare breasts.

The daughter also witnessed the man touching her 7-year-old brother's private parts while he was sleeping.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com