Man sanctioned for contacting teen victim over 100 times from jail: Court

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — A man arrested on a parole violation for having what prosecutors said was a sexual relationship with a teen was sanctioned in federal court.

In a Contempt of Court Status conference on Tuesday, Court records show 36-year-old Brandon Turjonis violated a May 16, 2024, no-contact order with the teen.

Not only did he violate the order, according to prosecutors, but he contacted the girl over 100 times by phone and attempted to contact her 232 times from the Mahoning County Jail, where he has been held since his May 6 arrest. The calls took place between May 16 and June 24, according to court records.

Turjonis admitted to the violation, according to court records, and was ordered to spend six months in federal prison for the violation. However, that sentence will not commence until state charges are filed in the teen sex case. Right now, he is charged with a parole violation.

The judge ruled that the state has 30 days to file charges against Turjonis in the sex case. The investigation is ongoing into the allegations of a sexual relationship with the teen. Investigators believe Turjonis started a relationship with the girl despite warnings from his parole officer.

The judge also ordered that Turjonis’ phone and any other communication device and privileges at the Mahoning County Jail be revoked until July 5.

A status conference is set for Aug. 8.

Turjonis was originally convicted of a weapons charge. In 2020, police arrested him after a standoff on Youngstown’s South Side. He was sentenced to just under four years in federal prison but received credit for the time he had served prior to the sentencing and was ultimately released on parole.

Kristy Regula contributed to this report.

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