LISBON - An East Liverpool man entered a guilty plea of one charge of gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony, at the Columbiana County courthouse in Lisbon on Monday.

Brett Thompson (20) was sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by five years of probation. He must also register as a tier-1 sex offender for 15 years.

Thompson was originally charged with four counts of first-degree felony rape that stem from an incident in October of 2023 in Calcutta where he allegedly compelled a woman into a sexual encounter.

Each count of first-degree felony rape was given for each alleged act he performed on the victim.

"There was a sexual contact between the two of them that was done under the duress of force or threat of force," Assistant District Attorney William Walton said.

Thompson entered an Alford Plea, a type of plea deal that reflects a guilty plea on the record while maintaining the defendant's innocence, according to the Legal Information Institute of Cornell.

"He maintains his innocence, however, he understands and recognizes and acknowledges that a jury could find him guilty based on the evidence that was presented," Thompson's attorney Joseph Ohlin said. 

Thompson did not make a statement to the court during the hearing.

The victim stated to the court that she would not forgive Thompson.

She added that "I am going to start getting my life back."