The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction says the request to transfer Becker’s probation to Ohio is being processed.
A man who answered the phone at the Massachusetts number listed for his home address hung up when a reporter introduced himself.
Becker, 18, was arrested in April on charges including rape after two 18-year-old females accused him of sexually assaulting them after a party. Police records say the women fell asleep on a bed and each said they awoke at some point to him penetrating them digitally.
He later texted one of the women saying, “Sorry, it’s my fault,” according to the police report.
Becker told police he didn’t touch one of the women, and that he was unaware the other was asleep and thought it was consensual because she didn’t protest.
Becker pleaded guilty to two reduced charges of indecent assault and battery on the condition the charges will be dropped from his record if he complies with his probation, which prohibits him from using drugs or alcohol, requires him to write a letter of apology and mandates he receive sex offender treatment.
If he violates his probation, Becker would be eligible for up to 2.5 years in prison for each charge and the judge would decide whether he must register as a sex offender.
The judge allowed Becker to serve his probation in Ohio, where Becker indicated he planned to attend UD.
Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer expressed concern that someone could attend a local college campus after pleading guilty to sex offenses without having to register.
“We certainly want to protect the kids on the college campuses, and it sounds like there’s some loopholes that need to be addressed by the legislators,” he said Tuesday.
Prosecutors in Massachusetts want Becker behind bars.
“After careful consideration of all available information and a lengthy and thorough investigation by (law enforcement), the recommendation of two years jail time was deemed appropriate and fair based on the facts and circumstances of the case,” said James Leydon spokesman for the Hampden District Attorney’s Office.
Massachusetts media outlets reported one of the victims provided the court with a statement saying she didn't believe jail time was necessary, and that Becker's attorney argued that he was an athlete who clocked many community service hours and has a bright future.
Becker's case has reminded many of that of Brock Turner, the Oakwood High School graduate who will return to the Dayton area to serve probation after serving three months in jail for sexually assaulting a woman at Stanford University. Turner was convicted, so he will have to register as a sex offender.
Earlier this year, an in-depth investigation by this newspaper found that sexual assaults often go unreported on college campuses. When they are reported, they rarely lead to arrest and almost never lead to a prison sentence.
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