Ohio man pleads not guilty to statutory rape charge | News, sports, work

An Ohio man accused of statutory rape in October pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment this week.

Robert A. Pepus, 26, of Garrettsville, Ohio, is charged with statutory sexual assault, a Class 1 felony, 11 years of age or older, and corruption of minors, a Class 1 felony 3rd grade. Police say Pepus had sex with a 14-year-old girl. He was unable to post $100,000 bail on Monday and was taken to the Warren County Jail. He pleaded not guilty during Thursday’s hearing before Judge Maureen Skerda.

In the department’s probable cause statement, state police officials said officers were conducting a security check at Corry Area High School in Columbus Township, Warren County, and saw a white car parked in the baseball field parking lot. Officers saw a person in the backseat and when they approached the vehicle, they allegedly saw Pepus getting out of the car without pants.

“I asked Pepus what he was doing and informed him that he was on school grounds,” – the statement states. “Pepus testified that they had sex. I let Pepus get his pants back.

Pepus allegedly told officers he thought the girl was 17 years old.

“I then went and spoke to the woman in the vehicle once she was dressed.” the statement continues. “I identified the woman…and discovered she was 14 years old.”

They also pleaded guilty:

– Katherine E. Byrne, 37, who was charged with endangering the welfare of children, a Class 3 felony, simple assault – victim under 12, defendant 18 or older, a Class 1 misdemeanor; simple assault, a Class 2 misdemeanor; and two counts of molestation on Oct. 27 in Conewango Township.

– Possession. Caroline A. Frampton, 32, of Warren, who was charged by Conewango Township police on Oct. 3 with two counts each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia stemming from an incident that occurred Oct. 3 in Conewango Twp.

– Possession. Michael SR Reynolds, 48, Warren, charged Oct. 3 by Conewango Township police with two counts each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia stemming from an incident that occurred Oct. 3 in Conewango Twp.

– Andrew S. Vik, 33, Warren, was charged Sept. 12 by Warren-based Pennsylvania State Police with two counts of DUI and five traffic violations stemming from an Aug. 25 incident in Farmington Twp. Court records show Vik is seeking an accelerated rehabilitation order, which allows people charged with driving under the influence for the first time to have their charges resolved without a prior criminal record.

On Thursday, one person pleaded guilty in court.

Gabriel E. O’Neil pleaded guilty to a charge of possession with intent to deliver. The charges of trafficking in proceeds from illegal activities, criminal use of means of communication and possession of a controlled offense were not prosecuted. O’Neil will pay $50 in restitution to the Warren County Drug Task Force.