An Ohio police chief has been charged with 70 sex crimes, 14 of which involved a child
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An Ohio police chief is facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison after being slapped with 70 counts of alleged sex crimes involving a child.
Bethel Police Chief Chad Essert, 44, was taken into custody without incident Tuesday night in Seminole, Florida, by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
A Clermont County grand jury indicted the Blanchester, Ohio, resident on 56 counts of sexual assault and 14 counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor — all third-degree felonies.
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Bethel Police Chief Chad R. Essert was arrested in Florida following an indictment on child sex charges. (Clermont County Sheriff's Office)
If convicted of all charges, Essert faces a maximum sentence of 280 years in prison.
The allegations stem from incidents that officials say took place between 2005 and 2010, while Essert was a “Young Marines” instructor and teacher at the Scarlet Oaks Career Campus in Sharonville, Ohio.
Officials said the suspect is an Essert student and the crimes occurred in multiple locations in Clermont and Hamilton.
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Bethel Police Chief Chad R. Essert faces 70 counts of child sex crimes, according to officials. (Town of Bethel)
“It takes a lot of courage for a victim to come forward, especially when the defendant is wearing a badge and has authority,” Clermont County Sheriff Chris Stratton said after the arraignment. “Today's case shows that no one is above the law. Every victim deserves to be heard, and all allegations will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.”
Prosecutor Mark Tekulve echoed the sheriff's words, stressing that victims are “protected and served regardless of the name or title of the perpetrator.”
Officials clarified that the charges are not related to a separate investigation involving Essert that was previously reported by local media.
TEXAS TEACHER INDICATED FOR CHILD SEX ALLEGATIONS, 'NO LONGER EMPLOYED' BY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
Essert served as chief of police for the Bethel Police Department in Ohio. (Google Maps)
FOX 19 reported that Essert resigned from his position at Elmwood Place, Ohio, in 2010 to avoid being fired for sexual harassment and witness intimidation.
Essert's employment status was unclear, as of Friday afternoon.
He is being held in the Pinellas County Jail pending extradition to Clermont County to face charges.
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The Sheriff's Office urged anyone else who believes they may have been a victim of similar behavior by Essert to contact law enforcement immediately as the investigation continues.
The town of Bethel did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office declined to comment.
