Ohio woman admits posing as boy to be with teen girl, pleads guilty to sexual imposition

Ohio woman pretended to be boy to date teen girl

CINCINNATI — A 31-year-old woman who posed as a teenage boy, cutting her hair and using male aliases, so she could date teenage girls pleaded guilty Wednesday and was sentenced to six months in jail.

Patricia Dye, of Franklin, also was ordered her to undergo a mental health evaluation and follow any recommended treatment.

Prosecutors have said Dye tricked at least two teenage girls into dating her, although charges were filed in connection with only one, a 16-year-old. She was arrested in June after the girl ran away from home for a few days and stayed with Dye for at least part of that time, authorities said.

Dye pleaded guilty Wednesday to three misdemeanor charges: sexual imposition, attempted sexual imposition and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Warren County Juvenile Court Judge Mike Powell in Lebanon, about 25 miles north of Cincinnati, sentenced Dye to jail and put her on probation for two years. He also ordered Dye not to have contact with the victim or the victim’s family and classified her as a sexual offender, which requires her to register with authorities every six months for 15 years.

“This woman victimized a young girl and needed to be punished for her actions,” Chief Assistant Prosecutor Bruce McGary said in a statement Wednesday. “Equally important is that we monitor and make sure that Ms. Dye does not have any victims in the future.”

A statement from the 16-year-old victim was read in court, the Dayton Daily News reported.

“I’m even scared to walk my dog,” she said in the statement. “I used to trust people. Now I don’t.”

Dye’s attorney, Rob Kaufman, said he had pushed for the mental health evaluation and potential treatment. His client feels remorse and “has really learned from this experience,” he told The Associated Press.

“It was the first time she was ever in jail, and I don’t believe she would ever get in trouble again,” Kaufman said. “This has really had a big impact on her.”

Dye’s parents are in poor health, and she is looking forward to getting out of jail and being with them again, Kaufman said.