Trial set in unlawful sex case

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A trial date has been set for a Lancaster man accused of having sex with a 13-year-old Delaware County girl after they met online.

Larry R. Dickerson, of Lancaster, appeared in Delaware County Common Pleas Court Thursday and pleaded not guilty to one count of kidnapping, a first-degree felony; four counts of unlawful sexual conduct with minor, third-degree felonies; one count of importuning, a fourth-degree felony; and two counts of possessing criminal tools, fifth-degree felonies.

Delaware County Common Pleas Judge David Gormley set Dickerson’s bond at $250,000 and scheduled him to stand trial on Aug. 22. Gormley also scheduled a pre-trial hearing for Aug. 7 at 9:15 a.m.

Assistant County Prosecutor Amelia Bean-DeFlumer said that Dickerson met a 13-year-old girl on the internet, drove to Delaware County from Lancaster on June 13, 2017, and took the girl to a hotel where they had sex.

Bean-DeFlumer added that Dickerson had been previously convicted on a federal child pornography charge, served 24 months in prison, and spent 10 years on the registered sex-offender list. Bean-DeFlumer said in the previous case Dickerson had made contact online with an individual whom he believed was a 13-year-old girl, but turned to be an undercover police detective.

Dickerson’s attorney, Brian Jones, said he thought it was interesting that Dickerson was charged with kidnapping because there was no alleged force in the incident. Bean-DeFlumer said the kidnapping charge was brought against Dickerson because he deceived the girl.

Bean-DeFlumer asked that Gormley set a high cash bond for Dickerson and said he has no local connection and has recently lived in four different Ohio counties.

Gormley informed Dickerson that he could face between three and 11 years in prison for the kidnapping charge, up to five years for each of the unlawful sexual conduct charges, up to 18 months for the importuning charge, and up to a year in prison for the possession of criminal tools charge.

Dickerson is being held in the Delaware County Jail.

Dickerson (left) with his attorney Brian Jones during the arraignment Thursday morning in Delaware County Common Pleas Court.
http://www.delgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2017/07/web1_Dickerson-Court.jpgDickerson (left) with his attorney Brian Jones during the arraignment Thursday morning in Delaware County Common Pleas Court.

By Glenn Battishill

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Glenn Battishill can be reached at 740-413-0903 or on Twitter @BattishillDG.

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