Fostoria school board candidate charged with sex crimes

FREMONT — A recent Fostoria City School Board and Fostoria City Council candidate was arrested on multiple sex crime charges Saturday. Todd M. Burgei, 49, of Fostoria, was taken to the Sandusky County Jail by the Fremont Police Department on three charges: importuning, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and compelling prostitution, according to Sandusky County jail records. Raquel Molina, Clerk of Courts for the Fremont Municipal Court, said Burgei appeared in court by video on Monday morning, after which time he was released on recognizance. Burgei is scheduled to appear in Fremont Municipal Court for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, Dec. 23 at 1:45 p.m. All three of the charges Burgei faces are felonies. Importuning is described in Section 2097.07 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) as soliciting sexual services from a minor, aged 13-16, whether or not the offender knew the person's age, and is typically considered either a third or fifth-degree felony. Importuning can be punished by up to five years in prison, up to $10,000 in fines and a permanent spot on the sex offender registry, as well as removal of child custody rights. Attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor is described in section 2907.04 of the ORC as either a third- or fourth-degree felony, depending on the age difference between the offender and the minor. It is punishable by 1-5 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. Compelling prostitution, as described in ORC Section 2907.21, may be punishable by 2-10 years in prison and up to $20,000 in fines, depending on the age of the victim. Burgei ran for the open Fourth Ward seat of Fostoria City Council in May, losing in the primary after receiving 19 out of a total 93 votes. In the Fostoria City School Board race on the November ballot, Burgei was not elected to a seat, receiving 3.5% of the vote.