Overview
- A Clermont County grand jury returned a sealed 70-count indictment Thursday charging Chad Essert with 56 counts of sexual battery and 14 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
- Prosecutors say the alleged offenses happened between 2005 and 2010 while Essert worked as a teacher at Scarlet Oaks and as an instructor with the Young Marines in Clermont and Hamilton counties.
- Essert was arrested in Seminole, Florida, and is being held in the Pinellas County Jail awaiting extradition to Clermont County where he will answer the felony charges.
- An earlier local probe closed in mid-May reporting that no criminal act was found while the Village of Bethel continued an internal review before the grand jury indictment was returned.
- Authorities are asking anyone with related allegations to come forward and note that Ohio law can extend time limits for public-official misconduct while prosecutors say Essert faces up to 280 years if convicted on every count.