Dale Stewart

        HAMILTON — Dale Stewart, a former Butler County sheriff's employee who had earned a reputation as a compassionate man who helped youths, will spend eight years behind bars.

        Mr. Stewart, who admitted he engaged in sexual misconduct with two teen-age boys, pleaded guilty in August to two felony counts of sexual battery.

        Despite pleas from family and friends for leniency, Common Pleas Judge Keith Spaeth on Thursday sentenced him to prison and fined him $20,000. The maximum possible sentence was 10 years.

        Both boys were under 16 and were members of a local Explorers post led by Mr. Stewart. Explorers is a group of youths interested in law-enforcement careers.

        Judge Spaeth said Mr. Stewart, 37, of Mason, had befriended the two boys with the intention of engaging in sexual misconduct.

        “He planned and schemed and plotted these crimes over a period of time,” the judge said. “It was not a one-day lapse in judgment.”

        The two boys and their families did not attend the sentencing, but had given statements to Judge Spaeth.

        “The victims have suffered physical and psychological harm,” the judge said to Mr. Stewart. “The victims need to have a sense that you have been adequately punished.”

        Judge Spaeth said Mr. Stewart, who has been held in the Butler County Jail for the past two months, did not deserve the sexual-predator designation. He declared him a sexually oriented offender, a less-serious category.

        For 10 years after Mr. Stewart's release from prison, he must notify the sheriff's department of his address. Reports from two psychologists said Mr. Stewart is very unlikely to repeat his offenses.

        Judge Spaeth said he received 18 letters from people praising Mr. Stewart's character and activities prior to the sex offenses.

        Mr. Stewart apologized for his actions.

        “I am sorry and remorseful,” he said. “I'm ashamed to be here in front of you. I can assure you nothing like this will ever happen again.”

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