WARREN — The 11th District Court of Appeals partially overturned the prison sentence of a Howland man convicted of child pornography, child abuse and bestiality, sending part of the case back to the trial court for resentencing.
Trent Addicott, 27, was originally sentenced to 24-to-28 years in prison in September 2024 after a Trumbull County jury found him guilty of multiple felonies and misdemeanors, including four counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, two counts of pandering obscenity to minors, and five counts of sexual misconduct with an animal.
A three-judge appellate panel, led by Judge John J. Eklund and including Judges Matt Lynch and Scott Lynch, announced in a Monday ruling that Addicott’s appeal had merit regarding the admission of hearsay evidence at trial. The court vacated four of his convictions, but upheld the remaining counts.
“Appellant’s arguments that three cyber tipline reports and related testimony violated his confrontation rights have some merit … the CyberTipline reports were not properly admitted as business records,” Eklund wrote in the decision.
The judges ordered counts three through six — all related to pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor — to be vacated. The case was remanded to Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Ronald J. Rice for resentencing on the remaining charges.
Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said in a statement that the state intends to retry the case.
“This decision reverses and remands four counts for which this defendant was convicted,” Watkins said. “This appellate decision does not disturb the remaining seven counts. This decision also does not disturb the defendant’s prison sentence of 16 to 20 years on those remaining counts.”
Watkins defended the original trial proceedings, stating, “We believe this evidence was properly admitted at trial by Judge Ronald J. Rice.”
Assistant Prosecutor Gabe Wildman, who tried the case, reiterated the state’s stance that Addicott remains a danger.
“We believe that this defendant is a danger to children and animals alike,” Wildman said at sentencing. “In no way should this man get less.”
During trial, jurors saw video evidence of Addicott engaging in sexual acts with a dog on five occasions, including once in the presence of a 2-year-old child. Prosecutors also presented photos of Addicott fondling himself near the child.
Addicott was classified as a Tier 2 sexual offender, requiring him to register with the local sheriff’s office twice a year for 25 years after his release.
Watkins said the state will pursue a new trial on the overturned counts, vowing to seek a sentence “commensurate with this defendant’s egregious and revolting actions.”
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