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WARREN -- A 67-year-old Niles man, convicted of inappropriate sexual activity with an 11-year-old boy, on Wednesday was given an eight-year prison sentence.
Neil Rossi of Cardigan Street was led away in handcuffs after Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge W. Wyatt McKay also labeled him a Tier 2 sexual offender. This will require him to register his address at the sheriff's office twice per year for the next 25 years.
In late July, Rossi pleaded guilty to an amended indictment charging him with attempted importuning, two counts of gross sexual imposition and one count of illegal use of a minor in a nudity-oriented performance or material.
McKay ordered consecutive prison sentences because of the conduct of the defendant, noting a single term wouldn't reflect the seriousness of the offenses.
According to the indictment, the 11-year-old boy's mother reported the crime Sept. 29, 2021, which took place at the defendant's home in July 2021. Prosecutors said the charges involved inappropriate touches and the fact that a nude picture of the youth, a relative, was found on Rossi's cellphone.
The victim's mother, in delivering an impact statement in court, said the actions of the defendant caused "deep violations of trust and lots of mental anguish" within the family.
The woman said Rossi "strategically executed these actions under our noses."
"His actions deserve severe consequences," the woman told the judge, saying the revelations led to other family members giving accounts of inappropriate behavior on the part of the defendant.
The victim said he could not keep quiet about the older relative's actions after he learned he had applied to work with a youth organization.
"I didn't want him doing those things to other kids," he said.
The boy, who is now 12, said Rossi's "gross actions" had messed him up. "They got way too weird and made me feel uncomfortable and mad."
Both the mother and the victim both talked about the consequences of the abuse, such as being made fun of and shunned by school friends. They also talked of sleepless nights, with the boy relating about having nightmares about the defendant.
Rossi apologized for "any harm that I caused." He said he liked to laugh and joke with the boy, whom he said was like a son to him. Rossi said he didn't understand completely what happened, but agreed that "the joking may have went a little too far."
Before handing down the consecutive sentences, the judge noted that the defendant didn't display "true remorse" for his actions.
The investigation included a report from Akron Children's Hospital and Trumbull County Children Services as well as input from the Ohio Bureau of Investigations special cybercrimes unit.
After release from his prison term, Rossi also will face five years of mandatory probation.