In Stark County Court: Guilty plea in sex crime case and no plea agreement in abuse case

• Young

Devin Young
• Gant

Demetrius Gant

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A 19-year-old Dickinson man pleaded guilty to felony gross sexual imposition during a hearing at the Stark County Courthouse on Tuesday as part of a plea agreement.

Devin Young is accused of having sexual contact with a girl younger than 15 years old, according to his criminal

complaint.

The incident occurred in April at Young’s grandfather’s home, according to the complaint.

The terms of the plea agreement were not announced during the hearing. Judge H. Patrick Weir ordered a presentence investigation.

Young is facing a Class A felony, which has a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

[b]No plea agreement reached in abuse case[/b]

A 27-year-old Dickinson man accused of abusing his 4-month-old daughter had not reached a plea agreement by Tuesday’s pretrial conference at the Stark County Courthouse.

Demetrius Gant is charged with a Class A felony for shaking his daughter, rendering her unconscious, according to his criminal complaint.

The case will be set for a jury trial, but officials say a deal can still be struck.

“There’s always the possibility of further negotiations,” said Jim Hope, Stark County assistant state’s attorney.

Medical professionals found bleeding in the infant’s brain and blood behind her eyes. The baby suffered permanent brain damage, which has affected her sight, speech, ability to eat and other functions, according to the complaint.

Hope said the child’s condition had not changed since Gant was charged.

Gant’s attorney, Kevin McCabe, asked that the pretrial be continued to another date, but Judge Zane Anderson denied the request since the matter had been rescheduled once before.

He faces a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Tags: stark county court, sexual imposition, devin young, demetrius gant, news, dickinson, abuse