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Former Kent State professor sentenced to prison for meeting 15-year-old for sex

Posted at 11:09 PM, Sep 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-26 23:09:00-04

Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced Monday that Willie Harrell Jr., 45, of Akron has been sentenced to eight months in prison in connection with meeting an underage teen for sex. 

Harrell was arrested last August after meeting a 15-year-old boy in the parking lot of Smith Elementary School after meeting the boy online. Harrell was a professor at Kent State University at the time.

On July 25, 2016, he pled guilty to importuning, a fifth-degree felony. 

According to the Summit County prosecutor's office, while out on bond Harrell attempted to flee into Canada. He was turned away at the border and was released back into the United States. In March 2016 he was also caught in Louisiana and was extradited back to Summit County.