Ex-Y. student admits lewdness charges

PROVO — A former international student at Brigham Young University accused of an inappropriate sexual relationship with a young neighbor boy pleaded guilty to reduced charges Thursday morning.

Oleg Barabash, 27, pleaded guilty to two class A misdemeanors of lewdness involving a child. In exchange, four second-degree felonies of sex abuse of a child will be dropped.

The young victim told his mother about the assaults, and his mother then contacted police.

Barabash was a sophomore attending BYU on a student visa and was dismissed a day after his arrest on May 22.

His attorney, Lisa Crawford, asked that Barabash be sentenced on Thursday as well, so he could be deported to Ukraine as soon as possible after serving any required jail time.

However, 4th District Court Judge Steven Hansen delayed sentencing until Adult Probation and Parole could speak with Barabash, the victim and the victim's family to make a pre-sentence report.

The report helps a judge gain a more complete view of a crime and the individuals involved before imposing a possible sentence range.

"Although it's a misdemeanor it's a very serious misdemeanor and should not, in my view, be handled without a thorough background investigation," Hansen said.

Barabash will appear in court for sentencing on Aug. 22 at 8:30 a.m.