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Sheffield man sentenced for having sex with second minor

Having sex with a minor while awaiting sentencing for having sex with a different minor has landed a 21-year-old Sheffield man in state prison.

Tyler J. Ordiway, 21, was sentenced by President Judge Maureen Skerda on Friday.

Police allege that the conduct occurred between Oct. 1, 2019, and Jan. 12, 2020, at Ordiway’s Deerlick Lane residence. The victim’s cell phones were taken into evidence and sent to the Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crime Lab in Meadville.

A report and consultation with the lab indicate that “four videos, approximately 144 pictures and hundreds of pages of text messages” were extracted from the phones and, per the affidavit, “confirmed the information previously disclosed.”

During a forensic interview, the victim said she had sex with Ordiway twice in one day prior to her 16th birthday as well as “on and after her 16th birthday.”

She revealed that she “consumed alcoholic beverages provided by Tyler Ordiway at his residence.”

“They had then driven to a wooded area in his vehicle, again being provided alcoholic beverages. The victim stated the next thing she remembered was waking the next morning in (Ordiway’s bedroom) and being told to ‘Check her phone.'”

When he was charged, Ordiway was serving a county jail sentence on statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors charges after having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Ordiway’s counsel, Elizabeth Feronti, said on Friday that her client has become an adult in jail as he’s been incarcerated for about 18 months.

That, she said, has “opened his eyes to where we are.” She argued Ordiway met the girl at work and that it is “not as though he was preying on kids.”

She asked President Judge Maureen Skerda for a county sentence and said Ordiway is “a local individual with tons of local support” and a job still available to him.

She highlighted efforts he’s taken while incarcerated — including therapy, no misconducts and coursework — as evidence that “he’s been trying while he’s there.”

Feronti said no victim impact statement was received and said she didn’t expect one to be provided.

District Attorney Rob Greene said a “big time state sentence” would be appropriate and that Feronti came “very close” to blaming the victim.”

Greene highlighted the timing of the two cases. “He knew what the ramifications are of having sex with children,” he said, explaining there is “absolutely no excuse.”

Ordiway apologized for his conduct, calling it a “terrible decision on my part.” He said he’s doing all he can while in jail and asked for a second chance. “This has really opened my eyes,” he said.

Skerda also highlighted the first case.

“You were aware what consequences” you faced, she told him, calling the first sentence a “generous sentence to keep you local.

“The court isn’t inclined to give you a second local sentence,” she added.

She then sentenced Ordiway to 10 to 30 months incarceration, $2,025 in fines and fees, sex offender treatment and submission of a DNA sample on a count of sexual abuse of children. Skerda explained that this offense brings a 15 year registration period as a sexual offender and that he is not boot camp or recidivism risk reduction incentive eligible. He was sentenced to another 10 to 20 months on a count of statutory sexual assault and two years probation on a count of corruption of minors.

A count of indecent assault, Skerda explained, merges for sentencing but does include a 25 year registration period as a sexual offender which, she said, starts once he’s released from prison.

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