YOUNGSTOWN — A judge has approved the early release of a former Youngstown police officer who was serving four years in prison for committing sex offenses against three Ursuline High School girls.

Arthur Carter, 50, was due for release Aug. 7, according to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction records. He entered the prison system Sept. 14, 2020.

Judge Anthony D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on Friday approved Carter’s release, but also ordered him to serve five years of community control, frequently called probation, and to participate in a residential treatment program through the Community Corrections Association of Youngstown. The program provides treatment for such issues as substance abuse and mental health, depending on what the person needs.

Carter pleaded guilty in July 2020 to three counts of felonious assault after he was indicted in 2018 on 23 sex charges involving the three students for incidents from 2001 to 2009.

Carter was employed by the Youngstown Police Department for almost 10 years and was placed on administrative leave after the initial allegations were made. His employment with the police department was terminated after he entered his guilty pleas.

D’Apolito called Carter in 2020 a “father’s worst nightmare” and said Carter’s actions showed “sometimes you have to worry the most about the people you trust the most.”

Carter was assistant track coach at Ursuline when he committed the offenses.

D’Apolito said if a parent learned a “coach, who is also a police officer” took an interest in their daughter, they might assume that was safe.

“Quite simply, he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He had the cover of being a police officer, of taking an oath to protect the public. He had the opportunity through being a coach to prey upon kids,” the judge said.

D’Apolito denied Carter’s request for judicial release in July 2022 and again Sept. 1, 2023. Judicial release involves an early release granted by the sentencing judge.

OPPOSITION

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office filed opposition to Carter getting out early. A Dec. 12 filing by attorney Erik Spitzer, special prosecutor with the state office, stated “while it is accurate that (Carter) has no criminal history, the larger concern is the defendant’s lack of genuine remorse for the crimes he committed.”

Spitzer added that “atno point in his motion does the defendant reference any accountability or apology to any of his three victims. In fact, by his own admission, the defendant acknowledges that the crux of his filing is regarding his unfortunate circumstances faced by his son and wife, not about any remorse to the three victims.”

Spitzer said Carter’s crimes were aggravated by his multiple positions of trust in the community as a police officer and an assistant track coach.

RELEASE HIM

One of Carter’s attorneys, Lynn Maro, filed a motion asking for judicial release Nov. 28, saying Carter’s wife and son are “in desperate need of his presence and assistance,” adding “family hardship is a factor the court is permitted to consider when deciding a motion for early release.”

Maro reiterated issues she raised in earlier filings, that Carter’s wife “has caused increasing physical limitations and medical care. As the sole financial and emotional provider for the family, it is becoming more and more difficult to work and stay above water.” She was diagnosed 12 years ago with a mixed connective tissue disorder, Maro said.

When Carter took the plea agreement in the case, “it was with the understanding the three-year recommended prison sentence was acceptable to the court. He did not appeal or want to vacate when the Court did not impose a three-year sentence,” Maro stated.

ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE

Attorney Natasha Frenchko was working for the attorney general’s at the time she served as prosecutor at Carter’s sentencing in 2020.

Frenchko told D’Apolito that Carter was coach of the three victims “at different times. And over a period of years, he sexually abused each of these girls multiple times.”

The victims were a girl who was 15 when Carter assaulted her in 2009; one who was 17 when he assaulted her in 2006; and one who was 18 when Carter assaulted her in 2001, according to court documents.

When the 2009 victim reported Carter’s actions, it launched an investigation that led to two other former students reporting that Carter committed offenses against them, Frenchko said.