Ross County Common Pleas Court records show that Trenton Pettiford, 25, of Ross County, Ohio, was sentenced on July 8, 2026, after pleading guilty to multiple felony counts involving minors. The judgment entry details consecutive prison terms totaling 48 months, along with a Tier II sex offender determination.
This follows Pettiford’s March 30, 2026 booking into the Ross County Jail on initial charges involving juveniles (Illegal Use of a Minor in Nudity-Oriented Material and a related misdemeanor), as previously reported. The case proceeded to indictment and more serious charges.
According to the July 8, 2026 judgment entry of sentence, Pettiford pled guilty to counts 1 through 3 of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, a fourth-degree felony under Ohio Revised Code 2907.322. He also pled guilty to counts 4 and 5 of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material or performance, a fifth-degree felony under Ohio Revised Code 2907.323.
The court imposed 10 months on each of counts 1-3 and 9 months on each of counts 4-5. All sentences are to be served consecutive to each other, for a total of 48 months in prison. Pettiford was determined to be a Tier II sex offender.
Court records show copies of filings and notices were regularly mailed to the Pettiford’s attorney, and that attorney filed multiple motions on Pettiford’s behalf, including a motion to continue the sentencing hearing, a sentencing memorandum, and a motion to file the defendant’s medical records under seal (which the court granted on July 7, 2026).
Court records indicate the case began with an indictment filed March 27, 2026. A warrant was issued upon the indictment and served by the Ross County Sheriff’s Office on March 31, 2026, at 8:54 a.m. by Deputy Cox. Early proceedings included a recognizance filing, pre-trial conference notice, discovery demands, motions for a bill of particulars and to preserve evidence, and a commitment order with conditions including no contact with minors and weekly in-person probation reporting.
A plea hearing occurred on or about June 1, 2026. Pettiford entered his guilty pleas around June 2, 2026. The sentencing hearing originally set for July 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. was continued to July 7, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. A certificate for court stenographer fees was filed for the disposition hearing. The final judgment entry of sentence and criminal disposition sheet were filed July 8, 2026.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on publicly available court records from the Ross County Common Pleas Court.
