COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper from Lancaster has pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of female motorists by forcing them into sexual acts in exchange for dropping traffic charges.
The U.S. Department of Justice says Bryan Lee, 30, also pleaded guilty to a count of cyberstalking involving threatening messages sent to a woman pulled over twice within a month’s time.
According to federal court documents, Lee coerced four women into engaging in sexual acts while some of them were under arrest or in handcuffs. He also admitted to photographing some of the sexual encounters, authorities said.
Lee admitted to dropping charges for some of the victims or the drivers of the vehicles after the sexual encounters.
Wednesday’s guilty plea in federal court in Columbus followed an investigation into traffic stops Lee performed from 2006 through October of last year prompted after a routine review of dash-cam recordings in Lee’s cruiser revealed inappropriate conduct with a female driver and passenger who Lee had stopped for a traffic violation, according to federal prosecutors.
Lee resigned at the outset of the investigation. A message was left with his attorney.
Lee’s sentencing hearing will be scheduled by U.S. District Judge Michael Watson.