Bond set at $500K for police chief indicted on 70 sex crime charges
By Fletcher Keel
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CLERMONT COUNTY, Ohio (WLWT) — The Bethel police chief, who was indicted on 70 counts of sex crimes, made his first court appearance Monday.
Chad Essert was given a $500,000 surety bond. Two weeks ago, a Clermont County Grand Jury indicted Essert on 56 counts of sexual battery and 14 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
The allegations involve one victim.
Assistant prosecutor Lara Baron Allen said the alleged crimes took place between 2005 and 2010.
“The allegations in this case are that the defendant cultivated a relationship with the victim beginning when she was approximately 12 years old and used positions of trusted authority to gain and maintain access to her,” Baron Allen said.
Prosecutors said Essert portrayed himself as an active-duty Marine reservist moving up in rank, became involved with the Young Marines program and worked at Great Oaks as a JROTC instructor, placing him around young people, including the alleged victim.
“The conduct is alleged to have continued for years and across multiple counties. The length of the alleged conduct demonstrates planning, persistence and the ability to conceal criminal behavior over an extended period of time,” Baron Allen said.
Essert’s attorney, Jay Clark, denied the allegations.
“In due course, you’ll find out the allegations are baseless,” Clark said. “He did not have an inappropriate relationship with her, didn’t groom her, didn’t have unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. He didn’t do any of that.”
The criminal case is only one part of the pressure Essert is facing.
Bethel’s mayor is calling for Essert to be removed due to “dishonesty, immoral conduct, and neglect of duty,” according to a memo sent to village council.
According to the memo, investigators found allegations that Essert had an affair with a woman he met during a traffic stop and had sex with her inside the police department.
The memo also details allegations from a former female officer who accused Essert of inappropriate conduct and sexual advances.
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