Former Waite Hill, Ohio police officer Matthew Mole
told a judge Monday he was shocked to find out that a sexual partner he
met on a gay website turned out to be a 14-year-old boy instead of a
man.
“When I learned of the male’s age, I was absolutely sickened
to my stomach and emotionally destroyed,” the 35-year-old Mentor
resident said. “I want you to know that I am not the type of person that
looks to communicate with or interact with any minor under the age of
18. I never would and I never will in the future.”Mole’s
attorney, Richard J. Perez, asked that Mole get probation for the
consensual incident that occurred at the victim’s Richmond Heights home
around 4 a.m. Dec. 19.Perez argued that the boy was the
aggressor who invited Mole to his home, lied about his age and used dark
lighting to disguise his youth as much as possible.But Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Nancy McDonnell sentenced Mole to two years in prison.“I
am a good person. I have a huge heart,” said Mole, who did not testify
during his July trial. “I have been a law-abiding citizen forever, and I
have been an excellent police officer.”After the trial, a hung jury was unable to determine Mole’s guilt on a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
However,
Mole had waived his right to a jury trial for a second count of sexual
battery, and McDonnell found him guilty on that charge.
The boy’s mother called police after discovering Mole in her home.
“You’re 35, he was 14,”she said. “At the end of the day, nobody really cares how that happened.”In addition to working in Waite
Hill, Mole — who resigned his job after the allegations came to light —
was also a police officer in Willoughby Hills, Beachwood and
Mentor-on-the-Lake.
Mole was declared a Tier 3 sexual offender, meaning he must register his address with authorities every 90 days for life.He faced up to five years in prison.Mole said he will appeal his conviction.Perez asked the judge to delay Mole’s prison sentence pending news of his appeal.Assistant County Prosecutor Jesse Canonico objected.“He should go to prison, and he should go to prison today,” Canonico said.The judge will consider Mole’s motion to stay his sentence.“But for now, you’ll be taken into custody,” she added.Prosecutors said they will not re-try Mole for the mistrial.The teen did not attend the hearing.



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