A Homewood man accused of trying to lure a teenage girl into his porn-laden truck was convicted Tuesday and put on one-year supervision at the mental health facility where he currently lives.
In June, , a Class C misdemeanor with a maximum punishment of 30 days in jail.
Homewood police said Dutton approached the girl as she walked alone near Riegal Oak Lanes and 186th Place and began asking questions, including where she lived and whether she needed a ride. Dutton drove away after the girl broke told him she lived close by, but circled back, causing her to fear for her safety, police said.
“My intention wasn’t to hurt the girl,” Dutton told Associate Judge Thomas O’Hara as he began choking up. “I wanted to make sure she was OK and to give her a ride home.”
His attorney, Jeff Aprati, argued that if the state really thought Dutton capable of a violent crime it would have brought stronger charges against him.
Before sentencing, the girl read a prepared statement centering on the emotional impact of the incident.
“Since (Dutton) committed this crime, I’ve been unable to sleep at night,” she said and implored the court not to let him “get away with it.” Members of her family were present and released sighs of disappointment when O’Hara ordered Dutton to one year supervision and a six-month review.
Although he found Dutton’s behavior in this matter “alarming,” O’Hara said jail time was not appropriate given the fact that Dutton’s criminal history is clean.
Dutton will not be allowed to leave the Sertoma Centre by himself for one year, O’Hara said.
He and members of his family denied comment, as did members of the girl's family.
Aprati said he thought the sentence was fair given Dutton’s mental condition.
With that said I am happy that Homewood Police enforce the traffic laws it keeps my roads safe...
My information is based on courtroom testimony from the state and from Dutton's defense attorney. According to such, Dutton moved into Sertoma sometime around his arrest and was allowed to leave the grounds by himself. Not anymore, said the judge, at least for one year. (On court records he's still registered to an address in Homewood.) What of the van? That's a good question, and I don't know.
So....he must be let loose.