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Former city police officer sentenced

SENTENCED — Former Steubenville Police Patrolman Nate Cline was sentenced to two years in prison on Monday in connection with an investigation into illegal hunting and the improper use of a state database used by law enforcement. Cline will be able to ask for judicial release after serving 12 months. He paid a $29,165 fine prior to sentencing for the illegal taking of deer and turkey. -- Mark Law

STEUBENVILLE — Saying arrogance overcame good judgment, Jefferson County Common Pleas Judge Michelle Miller sentenced Nate Cline, a former city police officer, to two years in prison on Monday for his connection to an investigation into illegal hunting and the improper use of a state database used by law enforcement.

Cline, 40, pleaded guilty to five felonies and 11 misdemeanors.

Cline was among seven people who were indicted by the grand jury in the illegal hunting case presented by the state attorney general’s office.

Cline pleaded guilty to five counts of hunting without permission, six counts of illegal possession of deer or deer parts, both misdemeanors, and felony counts of theft, grand theft, complicity to theft, unauthorized used of the law enforcement automated database system and attempted engagement in a pattern of corrupt activity.

He was fired from his police officer position in October.

Miller told Cline he could never again be a police officer because of his felony convictions.

There were three main defendants in the case, Cline, Robert L. Gilbert, 39, of New Freeport, Pa.; and Marlon Hale, 40, of 282 Saline St., Irondale.

Hale pleaded guilty to eight counts of hunting without permission, all misdemeanors, and felony counts of complicity to theft and grand theft. Gilbert pleaded guilty to six counts of hunting without permission, two counts of leaving the state with an untagged turkey, five counts of receiving stolen property and two counts of failure to tag a deer, all misdemeanors.

The indictments state the three men participated in corrupt activity by engaging in hunting without permission, illegal theft of antlered deer, illegal possession of deer and turkey parts and profiting from the illicit scheme. The indictment also states the three men profited from the illicit scheme by photographing, videotaping, filming, editing and scouting for the illegal harvest of bucks and receiving money for videotaped productions.

The indictments stated the hunting occurred on properties throughout Jefferson County, without the permission of the property owners.

The remaining four defendants were taken to the properties, without permission of the landowner, to illegally hunt deer and turkey.

Cline’s indictment also stated Cline on June 29, 2017, gave information he obtained through the law enforcement automated database system to Hale. Law enforcement is prohibited from using the information for personal use.

Cline also was fined $3,000, with $2,000 going to the Ohio wildlife fund. If he is released early from prison, Cline will be on probation for five years and will be not be allowed to apply for a hunting license.

Cline told the judge that, as an officer, he learned that punishment directly impacts future behavior. He said he had no intention of ever hunting or hurting his family in the future. Several members of his family were in the courtroom for the sentencing.

Miller told Cline she believed he was humbled by what happened to him, but he had tarnished the police department’s reputation. The judge said there are many hunters who strictly follow the rules and regulations.

Hale was sentenced on Monday by Miller to three months in the county jail and then six months in the Eastern Ohio Correction Center. Hale will be on five years of probation, and must complete 500 hours of community service. Hale also will have to pay a fine of $2,000 and make restitution in the amount of $2,600 to the state’s wildlife division.

Miller sentenced Gilbert on Monday to a 180 day suspended sentence. He was placed on probation for five years. He was fined $6,000 and has to make $18,725 in restitution to the state wildlife division.

Neither Hale nor Gilbert will be able to get a hunting license while on probation.

In another sentencing on Monday, Jeremy Paris, 31, of Inkster, Mich., was sentenced to nine years in prison by Miller after Paris pleaded guilty to three counts of rape involving a teenage girl.

Paris was charged with the crimes after he admitted to the victim’s mother what happened, said Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey Bruzzese. The indictment states the sexual conduct occurred in the summer of 2017 in Steubenville.

Paris faced a maximum of 33 years in prison.

Miller ruled Paris is a Tier III sex offender, requiring him to report his address to the sheriff where he lives or works every 90 days for life.

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