Just Shoot Me!

Former Ohio Senate Candidate Accused of Introducing "Stan the Man" to Girl, 15

It's usually teachers and coaches who are accused of having sex with underage girls, but we suppose a political candidate can also do such a dumbass thing. This time we have a third-party candidate for the US Senate seat in Ohio, one Eric W. Deaton. His lawyer claims it was all innocent fun with the girl (at least until she turned 16), but police say that things started much earlier and that Deaton used coercion to get some action for "Stan the Man."

Oh yes, he named his junk.

Deaton, 43, of New Lebanon is charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. The indictment alleges that, between March 2006 and March 2007, he engaged in sexual conduct with a girl who was between the ages of 13 and 15.

His trial in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court started Monday and will continue Tuesday. Deaton was on the November 2010 ballot as the Constitution Party candidate.  Assistant county prosecutor Michelle Grodner said that the girl, now 19, met the Deatons through church. She worked as a babysitter for Deaton’s family, did yard work and other odd jobs for them.

“She grew very close to that family,” Grodner said. “She still loves them.”

But in late 2006, she was asked to paint a foyer with Deaton’s wife. When the wife left, Deaton approached the girl and asked her to go in his daughter’s bedroom and take a break. He persuaded her to lay down on the bed, then crawled on top of her and started kissing her, Grodner said.

Though the girl continually said no, he took off her clothes and took off his pants. Grodner said Deaton told the girl “Be still, I have somebody you want to meet.” That was “Stan the Man,” Deaton’s nickname for his genitals, Grodner said.  Afterward, Deaton made her promise not to tell anybody, Grodner said.

The sexual relationship continued for several months after she turned 16, Grodner said.  “We disagree on the time line,” Rion said.