Ohio Police Chief Faces 70-count Child Sex Charges in Florida

WHO:

NY Post - Bethel Police Chief Chad Essert, 44, is involved in the case.

Fox News - Clermont County Sheriff Chris Stratton and Prosecutor Mark Tekulve commented on the indictment.

WHAT:

NY Post - Essert faces a 70-count indictment for alleged child sex crimes.

Fox News - The indictment includes 56 counts of sexual battery and 14 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, all third-degree felonies.

Fox News - If convicted of all charges, Essert faces a maximum penalty of 280 years in prison.

WHERE:

NY Post - Essert was arrested in Seminole, Florida.

Fox News - The alleged offenses occurred in Clermont and Hamilton counties, Ohio.

WHEN:

Fox News - The alleged offenses took place between 2005 and 2010.

WHY:

Fox News - The charges stem from allegations involving a student of Essert’s while he was an instructor at the "Young Marines" and a teacher at Scarlet Oaks Career Campus in Sharonville, Ohio.

Fox News - Sheriff Stratton stated, "It takes tremendous courage for a victim to come forward, especially when the accused wears a badge and holds a position of authority."

HOW:

Fox News - Essert was taken into custody without incident by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Fox News - Essert is being held in the Pinellas County Jail awaiting extradition to Clermont County to face the charges.

(UPDATED June 13, 2026 09:55 UTC)

Bethel Police Chief Chad Essert, 44, has been indicted on 70 counts related to alleged child sex crimes, including 56 counts of sexual battery and 14 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, all classified as third-degree felonies. The alleged offenses occurred between 2005 and 2010 while Essert was an instructor at the "Young Marines" and a teacher at Scarlet Oaks Career Campus in Sharonville, Ohio, and he was arrested in Seminole, Florida, where he is currently being held in the Pinellas County Jail awaiting extradition to Clermont County. If convicted of all charges, Essert faces a maximum penalty of 280 years in prison, with Sheriff Chris Stratton emphasizing the courage it takes for victims to come forward against someone in a position of authority.