Man sentenced for soliciting sex from Willoughby 14-year-old

A Cleveland Heights man was sentenced May 14 to 30 days in jail and 18 months probation for using a telecommunication device to solicit a 14-year-old girl from Willoughby for sex.

Brandon Melnick, 19, confessed to using social media applications Instagram and Snapchat to solicit the teen between Sept. 29 and Oct. 1. Melnick also acknowledged that he knew the female victim was 14 years old.

He previously pleaded guilty March 8 in Lake County Common Pleas Court to felony importuning.

Prosecutors recommended that the defendant, who faced up to one year in prison, be placed on community control sanctions.

Melnick will be required to register as a Tier 1 sex offender for 15 years.

Judge Vincent A. Culotta is allowing Melnick to be released from jail for two hours Monday through Friday to attend college.

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