WASHINGTON—A former trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol was sentenced to five years in federal prison on Thursday in Columbus, Ohio.
He admitted coercing four female victims to engage in sexual acts in exchange for lenient treatment in connection with potential criminal cases and traffic tickets, officials said.
Bryan D. Lee, 31, of Lancaster, Ohio, plead guilty on Oct. 29, 2014, to four counts of violating the civil rights of female motorists and one count of engaging in cyber stalking.
Lee served as an OSP Trooper from approximately January 2006 until October 2013.
As part of his plea, Lee admitted that he violated the civil rights of four female victims by coercing them in his official capacity to commit sexual acts, some of which he photographed, in exchange for his agreement not to file criminal charges or issue traffic infractions against the victims or their friends.
Lee further admitted that he engaged in sexual contact with certain victims while they were under arrest and restrained in handcuffs. Lee also harassed and threatened some of the victims, including sending threatening electronic messages to one individual who he pulled over twice during a one-month period.