By ED RUNYAN

Staff writer

YOUNGSTOWN — Neal J. Zickefoose, 60, of Smith Stewart Road in Vienna Township, pleaded guilty to compelling prostitution Tuesday after trying to arrange for sex with what he thought was an underage girl but was actually an Austintown police officer.

Zickefoose entered his plea before Judge Anthony Donofrio of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Zickefoose committed his crime Feb. 8 to Feb. 16 during a sex sting carried out by the Austintown Police Department.

Zickefoose’s indictment states that he “did knowingly pay or agree to pay a person the offender believes to be a minor, either directly or through an agent, so the person will engage in sexual activity, whether or not the person is a minor.”

Other charges in Zickefoose’s indictment are being dismissed in exchange for the guilty plea.

Prosecutor said they will ask for Zickefoose to get 18 months in prison when he is sentenced at 10 a.m. Feb. 2. The Community Corrections Association of Youngstown will carry out an investigation of Zickefoose’s background and history to assist the judge with sentencing.

Zickefoose will be classified as a tier 2 sex offender, requiring him to register every six months for 25 years. He will be placed on five years of post-release control, which is supervised by the Adult Parole Authority, Donofrio said. Post- release control is also known as parole.

erunyan@vindy.com