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LISBON -- Multiple charges are awaiting a Pennsylvania man who fled from East Palestine during a sex-for-hire sting, striking a police officer with his vehicle and leading police on a high-speed chase back into his home state.
Adam Hileman, 43, Brackenridge, Pa., is facing charges of felonious assault, a first-degree felony, third-degree felony compelling prostitution, fourth-degree felony attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and misdemeanor engaging in prostitution in Columbiana County Municipal Court.
He's also currently facing multiple traffic counts and charges in Beaver County, Pa. where the pursuit ended with his arrest, with a preliminary hearing scheduled Feb. 9 for charges of driving under the influence, reckless driving, careless driving, fleeing, criminal mischief, designated traffic lane, red signal violations, and unsafe movement, according to Beaver County online court records. He's jailed under a $750,000 bond.
According to a press release from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Hileman allegedly agreed to pay for sex with a fictitious 15-year-old girl as part of a sting by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, which is part of the attorney general's Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission. The press release said that Hileman told undercover agents that "he likes them younger."
When he drove to East Palestine for the meeting on Feb. 1, he allegedly "rammed his truck into an officer's body and fled."
"In true predator form, this would-be john recklessly endangered lives in an attempt to evade capture," Yost said in the press release. "Kudos to our task force agents and partners in Pennsylvania for protecting the public and blocking his escape."
East Palestine Police Chief Jim Brown when contacted Tuesday said the officer who was struck was banged up and bruised, but he was fine. An East Palestine officer is a member of the MVHTTF and has had numerous sex sting arrests the past few years.
The press release said that "after coming to a stop, Hileman refused to get out of his truck and appeared to consume narcotics, prompting first responders to administer Narcan before Pennsylvania State Police took him into custody. He remains in custody in Pennsylvania awaiting extradition to Ohio to answer for the charges here."
No hearing has been scheduled in Columbiana County Municipal Court, pending Hileman's return to Ohio.