Ohio Police Chief Arrested in Florida on 70-Count Child Sex Indictment
Bethel Police Chief Chad Essert, 44, was arrested Tuesday night in Seminole, Florida, following a Clermont County grand jury indictment on 56 counts of sexual battery and 14 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. The alleged offenses occurred between 2005 and 2010, when Essert was an instructor with the Young Marines program and a teacher at Scarlet Oaks Career Campus in Sharonville, Ohio. If convicted on all counts, Essert faces a maximum of 280 years in prison, and authorities are urging any additional potential victims to come forward.
Chad Essert, 44, the police chief of Bethel, Ohio, was taken into custody without incident on Tuesday night in Seminole, Florida, by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office after a Clermont County grand jury handed down a 70-count indictment. The charges include 56 counts of sexual battery and 14 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, all third-degree felonies carrying a combined maximum sentence of 280 years. Authorities allege the crimes took place between 2005 and 2010 across multiple locations in Clermont and Hamilton counties, with the alleged victim identified as a student of Essert's during his time as a Young Marines instructor and teacher at Scarlet Oaks Career Campus. Clermont County Sheriff Chris Stratton praised the victim's courage in coming forward and stated that no one is above the law, while Prosecutor Mark Tekulve emphasized that victims are protected regardless of the perpetrator's title. Officials noted the current charges are unrelated to a separate, previously reported investigation involving Essert. A prior report indicated Essert resigned from a position in Elmwood Place, Ohio, in 2010 to avoid termination over allegations of sexual harassment and witness intimidation. Essert remains in Pinellas County Jail awaiting extradition to Ohio, and the investigation is ongoing.
What's missing
It is unclear whether Essert has retained legal counsel or entered a plea, and no defense response or attorney statement is included in either source. The identity or current age of the alleged victim, and whether the statute of limitations posed any legal hurdle to prosecution, are also unaddressed.
What different sources said
- New York PostRight
Ohio police chief arrested in Florida after grand jury hands down 70-count child sex indictment
- Fox NewsRight
Ohio police chief arrested in Florida after grand jury hands down 70-count child sex indictment
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