Man sentenced for bringing Georgia girl to Dover for relationship
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER ) (Mar. 19, 2025) – The man who admitted to meeting a 12-year-old Georgia girl online and bringing her to Dover to be his girlfriend last year is heading to prison.
Judge Michael Ernest accepted the negotiated agreement that gives 35-year-old Antonio Agustin a life sentence with parole possible after 15 years.
This follows Agustin’s recent guilty plea to two counts of rape, one count of gross sexual imposition, and two counts of pandering.
Tuscarawas County Prosecutor Ryan Styer is satisfied with the outcome that was worked out with Agustin’s public defender.
“Essentially we were negotiating when he would first be eligible for parole,” said Styer. “That doesn’t mean he’s going to get parole, that just means the first chance he’s eligible to ask for it.”
Avoiding trial also prevented the victim – who continues receiving counseling – from having to return to Ohio to testify.
Styer says while the victim was not in court, she did prepare a written statement that his office’s victim advocate read.
“In her statement she really talks about how she’s still processing feelings of guilt, feelings of depression and anxiety. But it’s also clear that she’s become very self-aware that she was taken advantage of. She was a vulnerable 12-year-old in Georgia who was groomed online by Agustin and then later met with him” said Styer.
Agustin also had a brief statement read by his interpreter saying he is remorseful for his actions.
Styer says it’s unclear if authorities in Georgia will also charge Agustin for crimes in that state.