Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Dresden Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Crimes, Child Endangerment
In Muskingum County Common Pleas Court, a 58-year-old man from Dresden admitted committing sex crimes against a minor.
Alberto Mancuso, 58, of Dresden, appeared before Muskingum County Common Pleas Court Judge Kelly Cottrill on February 9, entering a guilty plea. Mancuso was charged with attempted gross sexual imposition and endangering a child.
In February 2023, the victim disclosed to a Muskingum County Adult and Child Protective Services (MCACPS) caseworker that she had been sexually assaulted by Mancuso on multiple occasions over the years.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Gerald Anderson says the victim’s courage in coming forward was key to stopping Mancuso’s predatory crimes.
“I'd like to recognize the courage of the victim coming forward,” Anderson said. “She’s gone through multiple hardships through her young life, and many of the people who should have protected her failed her and refused to support her. I want to thank the family members who did support her, including like another person familiar with the defendant's criminal behavior, who came forward. This outcome will require the defendant to register as a sex offender for 15 years—hopefully a warning that will keep other potential victims safe.”
Obtaining some justice for victims is better than risking no justice at all being served, Anderson says.
“The results of this case are not ideal, and by no means provide a full measure of justice,” Anderson said. “Choosing to aggressively pursue and prosecute sex offenders requires our office to balance the rewards of full justice with risks of no justice. These decisions are not taken lightly and are always discussed with victims before a decision is made on how to proceed. In this case, after considering a number of factors, a negotiated plea was determined to be the best result.
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