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BETHEL, Ohio (BFMG) — The police chief of the Clermont County village has been indicted on 70 felony sex-related charges and could face up to 280 years in prison if convicted on all counts, authorities said.
Clermont County officials announced Thursday that Bethel Police Chief Chad Essert, 44, was indicted on 56 counts of sexual battery and 14 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. All of the charges are third-degree felonies.
Investigators said the alleged offenses occurred between 2005 and 2010, when Essert was an instructor with the Young Marines program and a teacher at Scarlet Oaks in Sharonville. The victim was a student of Essert’s during that period, and the alleged crimes took place at multiple locations in both Clermont and Hamilton counties.
Authorities said the allegations outlined in the indictment are separate from, and not connected to, an earlier investigation involving Essert that had previously drawn local media attention.
“It takes tremendous courage for a victim to come forward, especially when the accused wears a badge and holds a position of authority,” Clermont County Sheriff Chris Stratton said in a statement. “Today’s indictment demonstrates that no one is above the law. Every victim deserves to be heard, and every allegation will be thoroughly investigated and pursued in accordance with the law.”
Stratton also thanked the prosecutor’s office for its role in the case, saying he was “thankful for the outstanding support from Prosecutor Tekulve’s Office throughout this investigation. This indictment reflects our shared dedication to public safety and enforcing the law.”
Essert was taken into custody without incident by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Investigations Section in Seminole, Florida, officials said. He is being held at the Pinellas County Jail while he awaits extradition to Clermont County.
Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve said the case underscores that victims will be protected regardless of who the accused is. “This investigation is a perfect example of how victims are protected and served regardless of the name or title of the perpetrator,” Tekulve said. “The Prosecutor’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office worked seamlessly in this effort.”
The sheriff’s office urged anyone who believes they may have been a victim of similar conduct to contact law enforcement, noting that information from additional victims or witnesses could aid the ongoing investigation.
