An Ohio state trooper who masturbated with a pre-teen boy on at least two occasions will not be charged… because the prosecutor thinks the trooper has a good enough excuse.
Ohio State Highway Patrol Officer Ricky Vitte Jr. watched porn with a pre-teen boy, according to his wife. Vitte and the boy sat on either side of dresser and masturbated while they watched, according to investigative report by the Sandusky Register.
Vitte’s relation to the unnamed boy was not made clear.
As for Vitte’s excuse? He said the masturbatory sessions did not include sexual contact with the boy. Rather, he was simply trying to help the boy find a healthy outlet for his sexual drive by introducing him to porn and masturbation.
Sandusky County prosecutor Tom Stierwalt was so satisfied with that explanation that he opted not to press charges–meaning a jury will never have the opportunity to decide for itself whether such actions constitute child abuse.
Vitte ran into trouble when Sandusky County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean O’Connell began investigating the wife’s accusations. Vitte actually led O’Connell on a high-speed chase, fleeing his home in his state trooper car when the deputy attempted to question him.
“He was purposely fleeing the area to avoid confrontation and or an arrest,” said O’Connell in a report.
This was not the first sign of trouble. Years ago, Vitte was charged with domestic abuse for violently spanking his then-girlfriend’s five-year-old son. He eventually pled guilty to a reduced charge of child endangerment.
The Register took issue with Stierwalt’s decision not to pursue charges.
“It’s not clear why Stierwalt would preemptively decline to file charges,” wrote Courtney Astolfi of the Register. “Generally it is incumbent on the suspect to present his own defense, rather than the prosecutor providing a defense for him. Stierwalt did not respond to written questions the Register emailed him, asking about these and other issues.”
