LISBON — A Youngstown man who recently lost the appeal of his conviction for soliciting sexual conduct from an undercover agent in 2022 also lost his request recently for the conviction to be vacated or set aside.

Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam on Wednesday denied the petition filed by Jerry Granberry, 45, in December to vacate or set aside the conviction or sentence. Washam also acknowledged the affirming of the conviction by the Seventh District Court of Appeals and ordered Granberry to report to the jail on Feb. 10 to begin his sentence.

Granberry initially filed the appeal in April 2024 to challenge his guilty verdict in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court and the 15-month prison sentence he received. The appeal was originally dismissed in July 2024, and he was ordered to report to jail to begin serving his prison term, but then the appellate court granted his motion to reconsider and reopened the appeal.

Washam found Granberry guilty during a trial to the bench in August 2023 of third-degree felony compelling prostitution, fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools and misdemeanor engaging in prostitution.

A charge of importuning had been dismissed at the request of the prosecution due to evidentiary issues.

Besides the 15-month prison term, he received credit for one day served in jail and was designated a Tier II sex offender, requiring him to report his address to the sheriff’s office in the county where he resides every 180 days after his release from prison.

Granberry had been indicted on the charges in February 2023 after responding to an ad placed on a known prostitution website by an undercover Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force agent and soliciting sexual conduct from an adult female and 15-year-old female in exchange for $180. He arrived in East Palestine on Oct. 6, 2022 for the meeting with his cell phone used to make the arrangements in his possession and was met by police.

mgreier@mojonews.com