20-05-2025
‘Hearsay' at trial forces sentencing back to court
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) – A local man convicted of sexually abusing animals has been sent back to a Trumbull County court for resentencing.
Trent Addicott, 27, was found guilty of four counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, two counts of pandering obscenity to minors, all second-degree felonies, and five misdemeanor charges of sexual misconduct with an animal.
He was sentenced in September 2024 to 24 to 28 years in prison.
An 11th District Court of Appeals decision said that there was one assignment of error in Addicott's sentencing and involved the introduction of hearsay evidence at trial.
'Appellant's arguments that three CyberTipline Reports and related testimony violated his confrontation rights have some merit … the CyberTipline reports were not properly admitted as business records, and we cannot determine that the records were nontestimonial,' wrote Judge John J. Eklund, with the appeals court.
Because of the decision, counts three through six against Addicott involving pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor must be vacated, the judge ruled.
The remaining counts were sent back down to Trumbull County Common Pleas court and Judge Ronald Rice for resentencing.
Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said in his response that they intend to retry the case.
'We intend to retry this case and will continue to seek a sentence that we believe to be appropriate and commensurate with this defendant's egregious and revolting actions,' Watkins stated.
'In no way should this man get less,' said Assistant Prosecutor Gabe Wildman, who prosecuted the case.
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