Madison Twp. woman goes to jail in sex case

Tracy Conley, a 39-year-old Madison Twp. mother charged with having sex with teenage boys, was sentenced Tuesday, May 26, to 90 days in jail, three years of community control and will now be recognized as a Tier II sex offender.

Nick Daggy/Staff photo Tracy Conley, a 39-year-old Madison Twp. mother charged with having sex with teenage boys, was sentenced Tuesday, May 26, to 90 days in jail, three years of community control and will now be recognized as a Tier II sex offender.

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By Lauren Pack, Staff Writer Updated 6:14 PM Tuesday, May 26, 2009

HAMILTON — A 39-year-old mother accused of having sex with minors avoided prison today, May 26, but will spend 90 days in the Butler County Jail.

Tracy Conley of Trenton-Franklin Road in Madison Twp. was sentenced by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Charles Pater.

Conley, who entered a guilty plea to reduced charges last month, also was placed on three years probation with drug and alcohol monitoring and is classified as a Tier II sex offender. The sex offender classification requires registration with the sheriff’s office every 180 days for 25 years.

Conley, a registered nurse, was indicted in January on two counts of unlawful conduct with a minor, a third-degree felony.

The charges alleged that Conley engaged in a sex act with boys, ages 13 and 14, on Dec. 31, 2007, and between May 15 and May 31, 2008. She pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fifth-degree felony, on April 7 a week before her trial.

Conley told the judge she had suffered from depression for years and also abused alcohol.

“I am remorseful,” she said, noting she is not threat to anyone and wants to recover for her children.

“I want to get better and go into counseling,” Conley said.

Betty Cepluch, Conley’s mother, told the judge her daughter has “lost everything and suffers from depression.”

“She was an outstanding nurse in Hamilton and Middletown. I know she is capable of doing that again with help,” Cepluch said.

But Conley’s estranged husband, Michael, told the judge Conley has blamed him for the arrest and has continued to harass him.

Pater said the case is difficult because there was a plea agreement, a “huge” age difference between Conley and the victims and the fact the victims are young.

The judge said some in society may believe young boys are not harmed by this type of sexual abuse, but that is not the case.

“If it was a 39-year-old man and a 13-year-old girl, we’re in a different ball game, Pater said. “I’m not going to sent you to prison now, but I am not going to let you walk away now. I am going to let you have a little taste.”

Assistant Prosecutor Greg Stephens said the pleas were negotiated with Conley’s attorney, Paris Ellis, after consulting with the victims, who did not want to go through a trial.

Stephens said there was no indication of force, otherwise Conley would have been charged with a more serious crime.

Conley faced up to a year in prison as part of the plea agreement.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or lpack@coxohio.com.

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