Pictured is Joseph Suder, who pleaded guilty to raping, taking pictures of, and trafficking children, on Jan. 29, 2020.

By Brett Milam
Editor

A Milford man, who raped multiple children, including one under the age of one, and also photographed and trafficked them, pleaded guilty on Jan. 29. 

Joseph Suder, 36, was charged in two separate cases, but pleaded guilty to both in Clermont County Common Pleas Court before Judge Richard Ferenc.

In the first case, Suder was charged with one felony count of gross sexual imposition, and one felony count of rape. He was indicted on those charges on Aug. 22, 2019.

The offenses occurred at his apartment at Oakwood Apartments on Brooklyn Avenue in Milford. 

Scott O’Reilly, assistant prosecutor, said at some point between Jan. 1, 2019 and Aug. 1, 2019, Suder had sexually touched and violated a child, who was under the age of one. 

Suder pleaded guilty to both counts:

– The felony rape count carries with it a possible sentence of three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 or 11 years, and a $20,000 fine. A prison sentence is mandatory for that count.
– The gross sexual imposition count carries with it a possible sentence of 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60 months, and a fine of $10,000.

Suder was also indicted on 51 felony charges on Sept. 10.

He was charged with three felony counts of rape; three felony counts of gross sexual imposition; 16 felony counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material; 27 felony counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor; one felony count of trafficking in persons; and one felony count of tampering with evidence. 

Robert Barbato, assistant prosecutor, said the rape offenses occurred on or about June 1, 2019 through Aug. 1, 2019, and involved three different children, all under the age of 10. 

Suder also had photographs of the explicit activity involving the children on his phone. Those photographs were then distributed to a co-defendant in the case, William Bustillos III, 26, of the village of Lockland. 

In addition, Suder had pictures and videos on his phone of other young children engaged in explicit activity on his phone, which he “procured from bartering or downloading online.” The identity of the children involved are not known.

Lockland Police said they are working in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine the identities of those children, as well as possible other suspects in the case.

The trafficking charges relate to Suder taking the children to Bustillos home to be raped, as Bustillos allegedly offered Suder money in exchange. 

Prior to talking with police, Suder attempted to tamper with the evidence by deleting numerous photos and videos from his phone. 

Suder pleaded pleaded to the following:

– One count of rape, which carries a sentence of three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 or 11 years, and a $20,000 fine. 
– Two counts of gross sexual sexual imposition, with each count carrying a sentence of 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54 or 60 months, and a $10,000 fine.
– Four counts of illegal use of a minor in a nudity-oriented material, with each count carrying a sentence of two, three, four, five, six, seven, or eight years, and a $15,000 fine. 
– One count of trafficking in persons, which carries a sentence of 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 years, and a $20,000 fine.

All those counts carry with them a mandatory prison sentence. 

Suder will also be classified as a Tier III sex offender. 

O’Reilly said that the State is asking for the maximum prison sentence of 84 years to be imposed. 

Sentencing has been set for March 27 before Ferenc at 9 a.m.

The Bustillos case ongoing in Hamilton County

Bustillos has been charged in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court with three felony counts of rape, one felony count of gross sexual imposition, two felony counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, and one felony count of illegal use of a minor in a nudity-oriented material or performance.

Joe Deters, prosecutor for Hamilton County, alleged that Bustillos raped and photographed a five-year-old between Nov. 1, 2018 through Dec. 31, 2019. Bustillos was acquainted with the child and the child’s family, and the offenses occurred in Bustillos’ Lockland apartment. 

“These cases are some of the worst that we prosecute.  No matter how many years I do this work, I will never understand abusing a child like this,” Deters said. “These are serious charges and I want to make sure that Bustillos spends the rest of his life in prison.”

Deters said Bustillos faced life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

Bustillos is next due in court before Judge Tom Heekin on March 3.Â