MANSFIELD — A 28-year-old Mansfield man was arrested Thursday night after he allegedly tried to convince a Mansfield woman to let him have sex with her 8-year-old daughter.
Bryce Witchey was charged with a felony count of importuning and was booked into the Richland County Jail.
He was arraigned Friday morning in Mansfield Municipal Court. Bond was set at $5 million cash. If he is released, Witchey was ordered to have electronic monitoring and have no contact with the victim.
According to Ohio Revised Code 2907.07, “No person shall solicit a person who is less than thirteen years of age to engage in sexual activity with the offender, whether or not the offender knows the age of such person.”
A preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 20 before Judge David Badnell. Defense attorney Attorney Rolf Whitney was assigned to the case, according to court records.
According to Mansfield Police Department records and a 9-1-1 call, the woman told police a man was talking to her on social media and wanted to have sex with her daughter.
She said it was happening even as she called police, using an Instagram profile. The woman said she was recording the on-screen conversation, but didn’t know the suspect’s actual name.
According to the police report, officers went to the mother’s house and Witchey was identified during their investigation.
“Screenshot and screen recordings were collected (from the mother) via email. A (arrest) warrant was prepared and sent … for review,” the report said.
When officers went to arrest Witchey at his home on the city’s south side on Friday at 3:38 a.m., he was also charged with misdemeanor counts of obstructing official business and resisting arrest, according to the police report.
Officers said Witchey tried to back away “and attempted to pull his arms away.”
“(Witchey) was advised he was under arrest, but continued to resist officers. After a short struggle and (Witchey) going to the ground, he was placed under arrest,” the police report said.
