Ohio: Police chief arrested in Florida and charged with 70 counts of sexual abuse
OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
1:27 PM – Saturday, June 13, 2026
An Ohio police chief was arrested in Florida and indicted on 70 counts of alleged sex crimes, some involving a minor.
Bethel Police Chief Chad Essert, 44, of Blanchester, Ohio, was apprehended on Tuesday night in Seminole, Florida, by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
On Thursday, a Clermont County, Ohio, grand jury charged the chief with 56 counts of sexual battery and 14 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, all third-degree felonies.
If convicted of all charges, Essert faces up to 280 years in prison.
The Clermont County Sheriff’s Office said the charges are from incidents that allegedly took place from 2005 to 2010 while Essert was an instructor at the Young Marines and a teacher at Scarlet Oaks in Sharonville, Ohio. The victim was one of his students, and the offenses allegedly happened at multiple locations.
“It takes tremendous courage for a victim to come forward, especially when the accused wears a badge and holds a position of authority. Today’s indictment demonstrates that no one is above the law. Every victim deserves to be heard, and every allegation will be thoroughly investigated and pursued in accordance with the law,” said Clermont County Sheriff Chris Stratton.
“This investigation is a perfect example of how victims are protected and served regardless of the name or title of the perpetrator. The Prosecutor’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office worked seamlessly in this effort,” said Prosecutor Mark Tekulve.
Essert was placed on administrative leave in May 2026 after the Clermont County Sheriff’s Department’s investigation was launched. He then requested Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave, which would provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for certain medical and family reasons.
Essert awaits extradition to Clermont County in Pinellas County Jail, though he can choose to waive extradition or refuse. If he waives, the Sheriff’s Office would have 10 days to pick him up. If he refuses, the governor of Ohio will need to issue a warrant to begin a formal extradition process, allowing him to challenge the transfer in court.
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