MIAMI COUNTY — A Houston man was sentenced to serve 17 months in prison for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in Miami County Common Pleas Court on Monday.
Houston resident Brandon A. Travis, 21, said had he known the age of the victim at the time of the incident, it would not have happened.
Judge Jeannine Pratt sentenced Travis to 17 months in prison. He faced a maximum sentence of 18 months for the fourth-degree felony offense.
Travis’ defense lawyer Stephen King said Travis was unaware at the time of the incident the age of the victim — who was a 15-year-old female — and acted in a reckless manner.
Travis said he deeply regretted the decision he made on June 19 when he and took the juvenile “on a walk to see Paradise Falls” near the old Piqua Power Plant.
Miami County Assistant Prosecutor Paul Watkins said the offense was pre-meditated and the victim has suffered emotional trauma due to the incident.
Judge Pratt informed Travis that he committed the offense while on community control in Shelby County, expressed no remorse for his actions and the DNA evidence supported the victim’s statements prior to sentencing. Travis will serve five years on post-release control and received 81 days of jail credit. He was also labeled as a Tier II sex offender and must register his address for the next 25 years.
Travis pleaded guilty to the reduce charge from first-degree felony rape in a bill of information during earlier court proceedings.
According to reports, the victim alleged that Travis forced himself on her after repeated attempts to stop him.
The victim and her mother reported the incident to the Piqua Police Department, and then the victim completed a sexual assault kit. The results were sent to the Miami Valley Crime Lab in June and a report on the kit was received Jan. 22.
When Travis was first questioned about the incident, he reportedly denied ever having sexual contact with the victim. Travis also reportedly volunteered a buccal swab of his DNA at that time. According to court records, a DNA match to Travis was found in the sexual assault kit.
