Man sentenced to community control, classified as Tier I sex offender

A Sycamore man who pleaded guilty to two charges was sentenced to five years of community control and was classified as a Tier I sex offender Thursday afternoon. Stephen Braxton Maple, 20, had been charged with rape, a first-degree felony; abduction, a third-degree felony; and gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony. He pleaded guilty to the charges of abduction, a third-degree felony, and gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony, during a hearing in Seneca County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Kelbley's courtroom in December. Seneca County Prosecutor's Office is dismissing the rape charge. Kelbley followed the joint recommendation and sentenced Maple to a five-year term of community control and granted credit for 16 days served in Seneca County Jail. Maple must enter and complete a Volunteers of America program in Mansfield. He also must undergo random drug and/or alcohol urinalysis as directed by Adult Parole Authority and cannot have contact with the victim. He was classified as a Tier 1 sex offender, with in-person registration once annually for 15 years. Before sentencing, the victim said she never wanted to turn in Maple at the beginning, and she decided to put his future above her closure. She said she always believed he could have so much potential, and she didn't want to ruin his life. "I put aside my justice for you," she said. Maple declined to speak before sentencing. His attorney, Robert Miller, said Maple had no prior criminal history.