Ex-Springfield Twp. firefighter gets prison in cadet sex assaults

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

A former Springfield Twp. firefighter was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison on allegations that he sexually assaulted minors in the department’s cadet program.

Jonathan S. Monroe, 24, of Springfield pleaded guilty last month to felony counts of rape, gross sexual imposition, two counts of sexual battery and prostitution. He had faced a life sentence prior to accepting a plea deal, after which he faced up to 37 years in prison.

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He also will have to register as a Tier 3 sex offender and will have to pay court costs. Monroe will get credit for time already served in jail.

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Court records show Monroe visited the Springfield Police Division in April last year, where he allegedly confessed to sexually assaulting four victims.

The alleged abuse began when Monroe was also a teenager, according to court records, and reportedly continued for several years. The four victims were all under the age of 16 and in his care as an instructor in the cadet program, according to court records.

Clark County Assistant Prosecutor Andrew R. Picek described the alleged abuse in court Thursday.

“One of the victims, the abuse began by the defense’s own admission to a police detective, when that victim was only 9, 10 years old,” Picek said.

Monroe allegedly told law enforcement for each person, “I thought it was consensual.”

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Monroe was remorseful in court and apologized for his actions.

“I would like to express to the court and to everyone involved that I am extremely sorry for everything that’s occurred,” he said. “Not only to the victims but to the families and to people I worked with at the fire department. I truly feel terrible for what has happened and I just want everybody to know that I am sorry.”

Monroe’s defense attorney, Regina Richards, asked the court to pay attention to the circumstances behind the abuse. A forensic psychologist, Dr. Michael Firman, testified Thursday that Monroe suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and abuse when he was younger.

Firman conducted several tests with Monroe and said he found him to be on the lower-end of potential for future sexual violence.

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“He seemed very forthright and honest,” Firman said.

Roberts called the sentence fair and said she believed a psychologist was needed because of the nature of the charges.

“A psychologist was needed because these were very serious charges and often without exploring the facts behind the charges, a defendant can be assumed to be more dangerous,” Roberts said.

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