MINISTER ADMITS TO BEING `SEX ADDICT'

Treatment plan denied in Internet sting case

A Trotwood minister, whose lawyer said he has been a "sex addict"since age 10, sought treatment rather than face trial in a Brookvillepolice-run Internet sting that presented a virtual 14-year-old boy ina chat room. But a Montgomery County judge denied his plea fortreatment Tuesday.

Common Pleas Judge Michael T. Hall scheduled Kevin Alan Turner'strial for April 7.

Turner's attorney, Dwight Brannon, asked Hall to grant Turnerintervention instead of possible conviction on the charges.

Brannon submitted a half-inch-thick brief with reports fromphysicians and psychotherapists who had treated Turner for complaintsof "memory loss" as well as the more recent concerns about sexaddiction.

Brannon wrote that Turner was abused as a child "sexually,emotionally and physically to a lesser extent."

He wrote that Turner started looking at pornography at age 10 "andsince that time has had compulsive desires to look at it . . .Throughout high school, college and even seminary . . . sex was onhis mind all the time.

"He had his first sexual experience with another male at the ageof 19 while in college," Brannon wrote. "Shortly after he begansurfing the Web . . . his addiction slowly began to grow."

Turner had been pastor of Anchor Community Church, 38 S. FairgreenDrive, for seven years when he was arrested last summer.

Montgomery County Prosecutor Mathias H. Heck Jr. said in July thatthe minister struck up a "conversation" in an America Online chatroom with what he thought was a 14-year-old boy.

Turner remained free after posting $25,000 bond set by a countydistrict judge last week, Heck said.

Hall said the court's adult probation department reported thatTurner had not "accepted responsibility" for the acts of which he isaccused. The Ohio statute lets judges accept a guilty plea and ordertreatment that, if completed successfully, can result in thenullification of the case. However, the law requires the defendant toaccept responsibility, Hall said.

Hall also said Brannon had described "a non-drug addiction. Thecourt believes that is not something that should be handled bytreatment in lieu of conviction."

Turner is charged with three felonies: attempt to commit unlawfulsexual conduct with a minor, which carries six to 18 months inprison; importuning, and possession of criminal tools, each with apossible sentence of six to 12 months in prison.

The criminal tools charge comes from using the computer, Hecksaid.

Conviction on the unlawful conduct or importuning offenses wouldalso require the judge to designate a sexual offender status thatrequires the convict to register with the local sheriff for at leasta decade.

Contact Rob Modic at 225-2282 or rob_modic@coxohio.com