Lorain man to spend 7 years in prison for trafficking girl, 15, for sex

A Lorain man charged with trafficking an underage girl for sex will spend seven years behind bars with no chance for early release, a judge ruled Monday. Desmond Ross, 48, pleaded guilty Monday in Lorain County Common Pleas Court to one count each of compelling prostitution and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and two counts of promoting prostitution, all felonies, and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor. The joint recommendation by the prosecution and defense is that Ross serve seven years in prison with no chance of early release. Judge Chris Cook ordered Ross to report to the Lorain County Jail by 5 p.m. Feb. 23 to begin serving his sentence. Ross will have to register as a sex offender for 25 years upon release from prison. Two counts of trafficking in persons for commercial sex acts and one count of promoting prostitution, all felonies, were dismissed following plea negotiations between the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office and Ross' attorney, John Kopasakis. Cook told Ross if he violates his bond or the conditions of his release in any way, such as by getting arrested again or contacting the victim in any way, he will revoke Ross' plea agreement. The case had been set to go to trial Jan. 20. Cook told Ross his sentence could have been "much, much worse" if he went to trial. Assistant Prosecutor Matt Kern said Ross and his co-defendants trafficked a 15-year-old girl for sex. The Chronicle-Telegram does not name child sexual abuse victims. The victim appeared in court but did not speak, and Kern instead read a statement on her behalf. The girl wrote that the "horrendous crimes" Ross committed "destroyed me in every way possible." She now has post-traumatic stress disorder and nightmares, and was placed in a youth psychiatric facility after physically harming herself. Ross and men like him who traffic children for sex should know better than to do what they do, she wrote. Cook, visibly impressed, told the girl she was an "incredibly brave young woman" and called her statement "powerful, compelling and strong." "I gotta tell you, there's a lot of young women, victims in your situation or something similar who can't bring themselves to court or they can't participate," Cook told her. "I totally understand that. But I want to give you a ton of credit for being here, watching this process, seeing what's been going on because it's affected your life. "Perhaps seeing how this works and seeing some finality and seeing how this plays out, I hope helps you heal and move on," he told her. "Do not let this situation define who you are going forward. Rely on your friends, your family, your faith if you have that, but this does not define your life." Asked by Cook if he had anything to say, all Ross said was that he wanted to "apologize to the victim." "She can weigh that apology as she sees fit and appropriate," Cook replied. Ross' other co-defendant, Emily Andrewski, 20, of Elyria, was charged with soliciting the victim for sex and having sexual contact with her. Andrewski pleaded guilty Sept. 8 to promoting prostitution and one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and agreed to cooperate with authorities. She was released on bond but cut off her court-ordered ankle monitor and was re-arrested in November, Kern said. Cook sent Andrewski to the Lorain-Medina Community Based Correctional Facility in Elyria for offenders with behavioral and addiction issues, but she was kicked out for her behavior there and returned to the Lorain County Jail, Kern said. Andrewski will be sentenced Feb. 9 in Cook's courtroom, according to court records. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. If you are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. For sexual assault and abuse crisis services call Riveon Mental Health and Recovery's Sexual Assault Services at (440) 204-4359.