A former suburban Cleveland police officer accused of using a sex toy on two women during an illegal traffic stop has pleaded guilty to charges including gross sexual imposition and misdemeanor interfering with civil rights, opting to avoid a trial. The plea deal allowed a kidnapping charge to be dropped, according to Cleveland.com, East Cleveland Officer Kenneth Bolton Jr., of Middlefield, pulled over two women, ages 22 and 23, after hearing about another officer citing them over the radio 30 minutes prior to him pulling them over. Bolton, 49, used a sex toy he found in the back seat to rub their genitals through their clothing while they were seated in the vehicle, prosecutors said.
Bolton was fired two weeks later after an internal investigation was launched over the incident. The 16-year veteran on the police force will now have to register as a sex offender, and will no longer be able to serve as a police officer since he pleaded guilty to a felony.
East Cleveland Police Chief Michael Cardilli's letter of termination to Bolton says Bolton made a statement to the county prosecutor's office "admitting to numerous misdemeanor and felony laws that you have recently violated."
Sentencing for his plea is scheduled for Oct. 16.