CLERMONT COUNTY, Ohio — A man who has worked as a police officer in multiple departments in the Greater Cincinnati area now faces multiple accusations of having sexual contact with a minor.
According to a press release from Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve, 36-year-old Robert Ellison was indicted on three counts of gross sexual imposition. He pleaded not guilty to all three in court Wednesday.
Tekulve said if Ellison is convicted on all charges, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
Most recently, Ellison was employed by the Elmwood Place Police Department; however, the charges stem from crimes allegedly committed while he was an officer for the Williamsburg Police Department in Clermont County, Tekulve said.
Elmwood Place Police Chief Randall Newsome told WCPO Ellison was employed at his department for just two weeks, before resigning on Monday "for personal reasons."
"That's all we knew until (Tuesday)," he said." I have zero, zero information about the incident or how it all came about. He was literally a probationary officer, had just been hired — he'd only been here a little more than two weeks and then he resigned. No one disclosed any of this other
information to us. Period. We had no — zero — knowledge."
Newsome said there were no red flags in Ellison's personnel files and that Ellison passed his background and polygraph tests.
While Newsome said Ellison didn't give him a clear reason for his resignation, a public work file on the Ohio Attorney General's website
lists Ellison's separation reason as "Resignation - In lieu of termination."
According to Tekulve, in addition to working as a police officer in Elmwood Place and Williamsburg, Ellison has recently worked as an officer at the Camden Police Department, the Preble County Sheriff's Office and the Owensville Police Department.
In court, prosecutors said Ellison, while in costume during a live-action role play (LARP) practice, cornered the victim, who was seated inside a vehicle waiting for their parents. Ellison then intimidated and forcibly kissed and touched the minor, prosecutors said.
The case is being investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Prosecutors said in court that BCI is "continuing to receive reports about alleged misconduct by Ellison."
In court Wednesday morning, Judge Kevin Miles ordered Ellison be held on a $100,000 bond. Ellison is next due back in court on November 14.
BCI is asking anyone who may have had a questionable interaction with Ellison to contact agents at 855.224.6446.
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