By Margie Wuebker
mwuebker@dailystandard.com A Celina man faces the possibility of life imprisonment after being indicted on two counts of rape involving two girls under the age of 6.
Another Celina man has pleaded not guilty to rape in connection with an incident involving a girl under the age of 13.
Daniel F. Brockman Jr., 28, who is currently incarcerated at the Mercer County Jail, made an initial appearance in Mercer County Common Pleas Court on Friday afternoon. The proceeding took place a day after a Mercer County grand jury handed down the indictments, both first-degree felonies.
The charges stem from a Sept. 11 incident at a Celina residence. Information provided in the indictment indicates the victims, identified as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, are 5 1/2 and 3, respectively.
Judge Jeffrey Ingraham warned the defendant not to make any statements that could be held against him after he started to explain what led to the crimes. David William Bruns was appointed defense counsel and arraignment is set for 9:30 a.m. Oct. 1. Given the serious nature of the allegations, Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Matt Fox requested a $100,000 cash bond. Ingraham approved the request without comment.
Fox said later that the Ohio Revised Code permits life imprisonment in convictions stemming from the rape of a child under the age of 10.
Gilberto Chavez Rodriguez, 24, 6193 Gause Road, faces the possibility of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine if convicted. He allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with a girl under the age of 13 at a Celina location earlier this year. A grand jury returned the indictment in mid-August.
Rodriguez is currently free on a $25,000 unsecured bond with orders to have no contact with the alleged victim or her family. Ingraham also ordered him to find employment or participate in the Seek Work program. He initially had been held in jail on a $25,000 cash bond.
His next court proceeding is a pretrial hearing slated for 9 a.m. Oct. 21.
Celina Police Department investigated both cases after receiving reports of the alleged crimes. |
