Man pleads guilty to sex crime

A Tiffin man pleaded guilty to a sex crime involving an 11-year-old girl during a hearing in Seneca County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Kelbley's courtroom Wednesday afternoon. Matthew A. Perry, 20, entered a plea of guilty to a charge of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony. Kelbley sentenced him to 36 months in prison, with credit for 64 days served. Perry was classified as a Tier II sex offender, with registration for 25 years and in-person verification every 180 days. Lidia Lee, director of Seneca County Victims Assistance, said the victim's representative said she wished for Perry to go to prison and serve the entire sentence. She would oppose judicial release, Lee said. Perry would be eligible for release after serving 180 days. Before sentencing, Perry said he wished he had thought about things before committing the act. Two others were charged in December. The case involves separate acts with the same girl, according to Seneca County Prosecutor's Office. Bryce J. Snyder, 19, of Tiffin, pleaded guilty to a charge of rape, a first-degree felony, two weeks ago. It was a lesser-included offense compared to Snyder's original charge due to the removal of an age specification. There was no force or threat of force, said Stephanie Reed, assistant Seneca County prosecutor. The joint sentence recommendation is Snyder serve a mandatory prison term of nine years. He would be classified as a Tier III sex offender. Sentencing is next month. Jaron M. Burns, 18, of Tiffin, pleaded not guilty to a charge of rape, a first-degree felony.