A former Ashland County sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced to 17 months in prison after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. The sentence follows allegations involving two children and has left residents in the New London area questioning how local officials handled the fallout.
Jacob Bilton is serving the sentence in Huron County, according to News 5 Cleveland. Prosecutors originally charged him with multiple felonies, including rape and sexual battery, after a June 2025 indictment alleged that he engaged in sexual conduct with two victims by force or threat of force.
The case had an earlier law-enforcement employment twist. In 2024, Norwalk police rescinded a job offer to Bilton after he failed a pre-employment screening, before he was later accused in the Huron County case.
The sentencing hearing also drew attention because roughly 25 people wrote letters supporting Bilton, including a New London Village Council member. Community member Tonya Gray said she was troubled by the number of supporters in court, while another resident, Carissa Surber, urged local officials to acknowledge residents’ concerns and the trust lost in the community.
One victim’s parent told the court that “the impact of these actions does not disappear because only one charge was accepted.” Gray said the plea agreement spared the victim from having to testify, but also described the outcome as an easy deal.
Tier 1 Registration Will Last 15 Years
Bilton must register as a Tier 1 sex offender and re-register once a year for 15 years, as reported by News 5 Cleveland. That registration requirement will continue after his prison sentence ends.
Under Ohio law, an adult classified as a Tier 1 sex offender generally has a 15-year registration duty. State law also requires annual address verification during that period.
