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Area man is handed 18-month sentence in Facebook case

STEUBENVILLE — Robert A. Kopras, 56, of Steubenville was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Monday by Jefferson County Common Pleas Judge Michelle Miller because Kopras couldn’t stay off Facebook.

Kopras, who pleaded guilty to extortion in connection with posting a sex tape to the Internet, was sentenced to six months in the Eastern Ohio Correction Center in March by Miller. Kopras never served the six months at the correction center because a close relative of Kopras works at the facility. Miller had placed Kopras on five years of probation.

According to information released by Wells Township Police, Kopras was in a relationship with a woman and they had a child together. Police reported Kopras taped them having sex. Kopras threatened the woman he was going to post the sex tape on the Internet if she didn’t let him see their child, police reported.

Belmont County Prosecutor Dan Fry, who was appointed special prosecutor in the case, recommended Kopras serve the 18 months in prison. He said Kopras could apply for judicial release after serving a month in prison. Fry said how Kopras behaves in prison will determine whether Fry objects to the judicial release.

Miller told Kopras at the March sentencing he was prohibited from using social media while he was on probation.

Kopras was warned by his probation officer to stay off the Internet but Kopras continued to try to contact the victim.

Miller again ordered Kopras to have no contact with the victim. The judge said Kopras will not have any Internet access. She told Kopras to follow her orders and she seriously will consider judicial release.

(Law can be contacted at mlaw@heraldstaronline.com.)

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