Former police officer indicted on felony sexual imposition charges in Clermont County

CLERMONT COUNTY, Ohio (WXIX) – A former police officer has been arrested and charged with sex crimes involving a teenage girl in Clermont County.

Robert Ellison, 36, of Fairfield, was indicted Tuesday on three felony counts of aggravated sexual abuse on or about Aug. 3, according to court records.

Ellison was working as a full-time police officer in Williamsburg at the time, according to state records.

He was held overnight in the Clermont County Jail without bail and is scheduled to make his first court appearance in the case at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Bethel Police Chief Chad Essert said earlier this year a teenage girl came forward and reported that Ellison had sexually assaulted her.

The victim was in her car at an event in Bethel when Ellison, who was an off-duty Williamsburg police officer at the time, forced her into his car and groped her, Chief Essert told FOX19 NOW.

Police said the teen was afraid to report it at first because she knew Ellison was a police officer, but she came forward with her mother.

Chief Essert said when he learned of the incident, he asked the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to take over the case because it involved an officer from a neighboring jurisdiction.

Ellison, meanwhile, resigned from the Williamsburg Police Department on Sept. 24 in “good standing” with “no pending discipline” and began working full-time at Elmwood Place, according to his statement. Work history on file with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Ellison started working at the Hamilton County village on Oct. 3, Elmwood Place Police Chief Randall Newsom said.

According to the chief, he worked for two weeks, did a good job, and then left abruptly on Monday for personal reasons. Ellison was scheduled to work Monday but did not, he added.

Ellison’s reason for resigning from Elmwood Place is listed as “Resignation – In Lieu of Termination,” according to the officer registration page on the Ohio Attorney General’s website.

However, Chief Newsom told FOX19 NOW that he had no idea about the criminal case against Ellison and was certainly not informed of any investigation into him nor was he warned not to hire him.

“He resigned for personal reasons. He didn’t say why. He just resigned,” Chief Newsom said. “I don’t know if he fit in here or if he didn’t like it here. I don’t know. He worked here for two weeks and he resigned. It just came out of nowhere.

The Elmwood Place police chief confirmed that Ellison passed required tests, including a polygraph, when he was hired.

“It wasn’t that Negative It is recommended, I will tell you that. We put him through all kinds of tests, from tests to polygraphs to everything…none of that came up, so I can tell you that,” the chief said.

Ellison emphasized that he did a good job patrolling Elmwood Square.

“I have no complaints about him. He showed up on time and gave me 12 hours of work while he was here. He did a pretty good job. I don’t know anything about his personal life or anything like that except just the basics.”

Ellison was certified as a police officer in Ohio in 2011 and began working as a deputy officer in Newtonsville that year, according to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. website.

A search of Ellison’s law enforcement background shows that he has worked for various agencies over the past 13 years. In addition to Newtonsville, he was employed as a deputy or part-time police officer with the Owensville and Camden police departments.

It also states that he previously worked as a “special” deputy with the Preble County Sheriff’s Office.

It shows that he was terminated from his employment with the Owensville Police Department in October 2021 after working there from January 2014 to August 2014; From January 2017 through most of November 2018 and from September 1, 2020 through October 6, 2021.

The reason is not listed.

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