Ohio Police Chief Faces 280 Years on Child Sex Charges
A small-town Ohio police chief has been arrested in Florida and faces up to 280 years in prison after a grand jury handed down a sweeping 70-count child sex indictment, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community of Bethel, Ohio.
Chad Essert, 44, police chief of Bethel — a village of approximately 2,600 residents — was taken into custody without incident on June 11 in Seminole, Florida, by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. A Clermont County grand jury indicted him on 56 counts of sexual battery and 14 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, all third-degree felonies, according to Fox News.
The Allegations
Prosecutors allege the offenses occurred between 2005 and 2010, when Essert was an instructor at the Young Marines and a teacher at Scarlet Oaks Career Campus in Sharonville, Ohio. The victim was a student of Essert’s during that period, and the crimes allegedly took place across multiple locations in Clermont and Hamilton counties, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Essert is being held in Pinellas County Jail awaiting extradition back to Ohio. An extradition hearing is scheduled for June 16.
Officials Vow Accountability
Clermont County Sheriff Chris Stratton emphasized the significance of the case, given the defendant’s position of authority. “It takes tremendous courage for a victim to come forward, especially when the accused wears a badge and holds a position of authority,” Stratton said, as reported by WCPO 9. “Today’s indictment demonstrates that no one is above the law.”
Prosecutor Mark Tekulve echoed the sentiment, calling the investigation “a perfect example of how victims are protected and served regardless of the name or title of the perpetrator.”
A Troubled Career History
The indictment is the latest chapter in a career marked by repeated misconduct. A 2023 investigation by the WCPO 9 I-Team revealed that Essert was terminated or forced to resign from three of his six previous law enforcement jobs. His personnel records documented sexual harassment of a female officer, intimidation of witnesses, untruthfulness, and disobeying orders, according to the WCPO I-Team.
In 2004, Essert was fired from the North College Hill Police Department for “unsatisfactory performance” during his probation, cited for integrity issues and embellishment of facts. In 2010, he resigned from Elmwood Place to avoid termination over sexual harassment and witness intimidation allegations. He was later terminated from the Brown County Sheriff’s Office in 2015 for failing to fulfill agency standards.
In 2020, while serving as police chief of Fayetteville, Ohio, Essert was charged with domestic violence after allegedly striking a victim with his truck during an argument. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct. A judge later denied his expungement request twice, ruling that he was “not sufficiently rehabilitated,” according to FOX19 NOW.
Despite this record, Bethel hired Essert as police chief in September 2021. Village Administrator Travis Dotson said he could not recall how background checks were conducted. Ohio law does not require public officials to conduct thorough background investigations on law enforcement applicants beyond a drug test and criminal record check.
Community Reaction
Residents of Bethel expressed shock and disappointment. “I really liked Chad Essert, so I’m more disappointed,” Dawn Paul, owner of a local craft store, told WCPO. “You didn’t want to believe it. We want to support our police officers here; we love them; they protect us. But they expect accountability out of us, so we want accountability from them.”
Linda Hughes, a Monroe Township resident, said, “It’s sad that someone would take advantage of the position that he had.”
Separate Investigations
Officials have clarified that the 70-count child sex indictment is unrelated to an earlier investigation into Essert’s alleged sexual harassment of a subordinate employee and misuse of a work vehicle. The sheriff’s office closed that investigation finding no criminal act, but the Village of Bethel continued its own administrative probe.
Essert was placed on paid administrative leave on May 8 and took Family and Medical Leave Act leave starting May 17, which he ran concurrently with accrued paid time off.
What’s Next
Essert’s extradition hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, in Pinellas County, Florida. If convicted on all 70 counts, he faces a maximum of 280 years in prison. The Clermont County Sheriff’s Office has urged anyone who believes they may have been a victim of similar conduct by Essert to contact law enforcement, as the investigation remains ongoing.
The case has raised broader questions about police hiring practices in small Ohio communities, where a documented pattern of misconduct did not prevent Essert from ascending to the role of police chief.