Feathers to register as sexually oriented offender following sentencing

POMEROY – A man has been convicted of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and ordered to register as a Tier One sexually oriented offender.

Eric J. Feathers, 27, was sentenced by Judge Carson Crow following a guilty plea entered by Feathers on Wednesday in the Meigs County Court of Common Pleas. He appeared in court with public defender Karen Justice.

Feathers was sentenced to five years of community control, 500 hours of community service, to pay restitution to the victim along with costs of prosecution and must register as a Tier One sex offender in a plea deal set up by former prosecutor Colleen Williams. Feathers must complete at least two years of therapy at Woodland Center with a specialist. Additionally, Feathers is not to have contact with the victim, the victim’s family or their residence. The crime occurred in Middleport.

A tier one offender is the lowest level with offenses ranging from voyeurism, sexual imposition, pandering, obscenity, menacing by stalking with sexual motivation and importuning. This level of offender must register with the local county sheriff’s office for 15 years.

Several times Judge Crow asked Feathers if he wanted to address the court, but each time Feathers indicated he did not want to say anything. Two evaluations were done to determine if Feathers was competent to stand trial. While those evaluations determined he was not incompetent, there is a measure of diminished capacity. Judge Crow took his time explaining everything in detail as it was happening and repeatedly asked Feathers if he understood what was happening. Each time Feathers indicated that he did understand.

Feathers was indicted by a Meigs County Grand Jury March 24, 2016 for having sex with a 13-year old girl. He was charged with two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and/or contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a felony of the third degree.

Theda Petrasko, victim’s advocate, addressed the court on behalf of the victim and the victim’s family. She informed the court that the plea agreement was agreed to by the victim and the family because the victim’s family did not want to put the girl through a jury trial.

“She didn’t want to cause anxiety to the victim,” Petrasko said of the victim’s mother and the decision to agree to the plea deal. She added they wanted no contact with the victim and family to be apart of sentencing.

Judge Crow said it was the victim and the victim’s family statements submitted to the court that he based adhering to the plea agreement. James Stanley, current Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney, presented his predecessor’s agreement to the court representing the state during the court proceeding.

If Feathers fails to continue counseling or break any of the other terms of the plea agreement, he would be in violation of probation and could face up to 18 months in prison. In addition to previously mentioned restrictions, Feathers is to abstain from drugs and is subject to random drug testing. Feathers will also have to relocate to live with a relative in Vinton County. Feathers has several days following conviction and sentencing in which he must register with the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office.