Staff photo / Guy Vogrin Scott Sharples, 24, of Girard, appears in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court for sentencing in a pornography case. At right is attorney Sean Logan.

WARREN — A Girard man was given a five-year probation for his case involving the use of child pornography.

Scott Sharples, 24, of Shawnee Drive, Girard, appeared for sentencing Wednesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. He pleaded guilty on Nov. 9 to two counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material or performance and one count of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor.

Judge W. Wyatt McKay labeled Sharples a Tier 2 sexual offender, which means he will have to register his address with the sheriff’s office twice per year for the next 25 years. The judge also ordered Sharples to stay away from social media and his internet use will be monitored. He will be subject to random warrantless searches by the probation department.

Assistant Prosecutor Gabriel Wildman, who had sought some sort of incarceration for Sharples, said the case began in September 2020 and was investigated by Girard police. Sharples was booked into the Trumbull County jail after being served with the secret indictment on 11 charges in September, records show.

The indictment states that Sharples was found with downloaded images of nude children, some as young as 4, with some engaged in sex acts. Sharples could have faced an indefinite prison sentence of between two and 12 years.

In not issuing a prison sentence, McKay cited Sharples’ lack of a criminal record, and his good support system that allowed Sharples to receive counseling.

“These are always tough cases for everyone involved, but I find that the principles of sentencing favoring prison have been rebutted,” the judge ruled.

Sharples told the judge he is sorry for what happened and “obviously this has hurt a lot of people.”

A host of family members and a school counselor told the judge about Sharples’ character, saying that this was a mistake from which the defendant can recover.

His mother, Carol Sharples, said the felony charges will prevent her son from following his dream of becoming a police officer.

A family friend and school counselor, Kelley Warga, said the case does not reflect Sharples’ true character.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com