ARMSTRONG MILLS, Ohio -- Deputies in Belmont County said a sex offender committed suicide on Monday by crashing his van into a tree.

Charles Lewis, 44, slammed his van into a tree in an Armstrong Mills cemetery moments after phoning police to say he committed sex crimes against two children.

Lewis further left a letter to his girlfriend, telling her he had committed sex crimes against the 5-year-old and 7-year-old girls and apologizing.

Deputies said Lewis was classified as a Tier 3 sex offender, which means he was a sexual predator.

However, Lewis filed a complaint with Common Pleas Court earlier in February, arguing his classification was unfair. Because of that, his classification was temporarily stayed, meaning deputies were not keeping track of him at the time of the crash.

Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers said Lewis was driving so fast on County Road 5 that he went airborne after running through a stop sign. There were no tire tracks on the road.

"I can attest to hundreds of cases this office has worked, it's never happened and I've never heard of it happening," said Detective Ryan Allar of Belmont County.

Deputies said the girls are being evaluated by Children's Services. Stay with NEWS9 and WTOV9.com for continuing coverage.

-Renee Cardelli & Ashley Koe, NEWS9