Canfield man must register as sex offender after prison

PORT CLINTON, Ohio — A Canfield man will be required to register as a sex offender for 15 years after he finishes his current prison term for soliciting a law enforcement officer he believed was a minor.

David Bidinotto, 66, was sentenced in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court to 24 months in prison. Judge Bruce Winters ordered the sentence in March after Bidinotto pleaded guilty to three counts of importuning. Each count carried an eight-month sentence, which the judge ordered Bidinotto to serve one after another.

Court records show Bidinotto used a phone or computer to contact an officer who was posing as a 14-year-old child. Prosecutors said the incidents happened in June and July 2025. During the exchanges, Bidinotto arranged to meet the person for sexual activity. Records state he believed the person was between 13 and 16 years old and that Bidinotto was at least 10 years older than the age the officer claimed to be.

Because of the convictions, the court classified Bidinotto as a Tier I sex offender. This classification carries specific legal duties that begin once he is released from the custody of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

Under Ohio law, Bidinotto must register his home address in person with the county sheriff where he lives. He is also required to register in any county where he works or attends school. The registrations must be completed within three days of arriving in a county.

Bidinotto must check in with the sheriff’s office once a year to verify his information. He is required to continue this annual reporting for 15 years. If he plans to move, he must notify the sheriff at least 20 days before the change.

Bidinotto is currently serving his time at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. State records show his expected release date is March 21, 2028. After his release, he will also be under state supervision for five years. If he fails to follow the registration rules, he could face more criminal charges.…Read more by Online Content Manager, Mike Gauntner