Ohio police chief charged with 70 sex offenses, 14 of which involve a minor

Ohio Police Chief Charged with Child Sex Crimes

An Ohio police chief is now facing serious legal troubles with 70 charges related to child sex crimes. Bethel Police Chief Chad Essert, age 44, was arrested without incident by authorities in Seminole, Florida, on Tuesday night.

A grand jury in Clermont County has indicted Essert on 56 counts of sexual assault and 14 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, both classified as third-degree felonies.

If found guilty on all counts, Essert could face a staggering sentence of up to 280 years in prison.

The accusations relate to incidents that allegedly occurred between 2005 and 2010, a period during which Essert was working as a “Young Marines” instructor and a teacher at Scarlet Oaks Career Campus in Sharonville, Ohio. Reports indicate that the alleged victim was one of his students and that the crimes took place across various locations in Clermont and Hamilton counties.

Clermont County Sheriff Chris Stratton commented on the situation, emphasizing that it takes immense courage for victims to come forward, especially when the accused holds a position of authority. He assured the public that the indictment signals that no one is above the law and that all allegations will be investigated thoroughly.

Prosecutor Mark Teklub echoed these sentiments, stressing that victims will receive protection and support, regardless of who the perpetrator might be.

Interestingly, officials mentioned that these current charges are not connected to a separate investigation into Essert that had been reported previously.

According to reports, Essert had resigned from his position in Elmwood Place, Ohio, back in 2010 to avoid being terminated over prior allegations of sexual harassment and witness intimidation. As of Friday afternoon, there was no clear update on his employment status.

Essert is currently being held in Pinellas County Jail while awaiting extradition to Clermont County for the charges against him. The Sheriff’s Office has encouraged anyone who might have experienced similar conduct involving Essert to reach out to law enforcement, as the investigation remains active.