(700 WLW)- Thursday, David Cross, 30, of Middletown, Ohio, pled guilty to rape, a felony of the 1st degree, and was sentenced to seven years in prison by Warren County Common Pleas Court Judge Robert Peeler.
On July 29, 2016, Cross, who was 28 years old at the time, forced the 13 year old victim to engage in sexual conduct at Kings Island. Cross started communicating with the victim on an app called Meow Chat and told the victim he was 15 years old. Cross arranged a meeting with the victim and forced her to engage in sexual conduct on a walkway in a wooded area between Kings Island and Great Wolf Lodge.
Judge Peeler sentenced Cross to seven years in prison to be served consecutive to a nine year sentence Cross is currently serving for a conviction in Butler County. Cross is registered as a tier three sex offender.
Warren County Prosecutor David P. Fornshell commended the investigation efforts of Detective Sean McCormick of the Mason Police Department, as well as Assistant Prosecutor Carrie Heisele, Victim Witness Coordinator Melissa Kennard, and Legal Assistant Kathy Fink for their work on the case.