Ohio Police Chief Indicted on 70 Counts of Child Sex Crimes

Chad Essert, the police chief of Bethel, Ohio, is facing serious legal troubles after being indicted on 70 counts related to child sexual offenses, which could result in a life sentence if convicted.

The 44-year-old chief was arrested without incident in Seminole, Florida, by authorities from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday night.

A grand jury in Clermont County charged him with 56 counts of sexual assault and 14 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Both types of offenses are classified as third-degree felonies.

If found guilty on all charges, Essert could potentially be sentenced to a staggering 280 years in prison.

The charges relate to incidents that allegedly took place between 2005 and 2010, a time during which Essert served as an instructor for a group called “Young Marines” and worked as a teacher at the Scarlet Oaks Career Campus in Sharonville, Ohio.

Authorities indicate that the alleged victim was one of Essert’s students, and the crimes reportedly occurred across several locations in Clermont and Hamilton counties.

Clermont County Sheriff Chris Stratton remarked on the courage it takes for victims to come forward, particularly when the accused holds a position of authority. He emphasized that the indictment serves as a reminder that no one is above the law and all allegations warrant serious investigation.

Prosecutor Mark Teklub shared similar sentiments, assuring that the well-being of victims will be prioritized, irrespective of the perpetrator’s title or position.

Interestingly, officials noted that these current charges are unrelated to another investigation involving Essert that had been discussed in local media.

In a somewhat related note, it was reported that Essert had resigned from his position in Elmwood Place, Ohio, back in 2010 to avoid termination due to allegations of sexual harassment and witness intimidation, although his current employment status remains unclear.

Essert is currently being held in the Pinellas County Jail while awaiting extradition back to Clermont County to face the charges against him.

The Sheriff’s Office has encouraged anyone who may have been a victim of similar misconduct by Essert to reach out to law enforcement as the investigation proceeds.

As of now, there has been no immediate response from the village of Bethel regarding the situation.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has not provided any additional comments at this time.