Ohio Police Chief Arrested in Florida Following 70-Count Child Sex Indictment

Chad Essert, 44, the police chief of Bethel, Ohio, was arrested on Tuesday night in Seminole, Florida, after a Clermont County grand jury indicted him on 70 counts related to alleged sex crimes involving a child. The indictment includes 56 counts of sexual battery and 14 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, all classified as third-degree felonies. If convicted, Essert could face a maximum penalty of 280 years in prison. The alleged offenses occurred between 2005 and 2010 while Essert was an instructor at the Young Marines program and a teacher at Scarlet Oaks Career Campus in Sharonville, Ohio. Authorities stated that the victim was a student of Essert’s, and the incidents reportedly took place in Clermont and Hamilton counties. Clermont County Sheriff Chris Stratton remarked on the courage it takes for victims to come forward, emphasizing that the indictment shows that no one is above the law. Essert is currently being held in the Pinellas County Jail and awaits extradition to Clermont County. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have encouraged anyone else who may have been victimized to contact law enforcement.