News Briefs
Merkle Indicted on 12 Counts
A Geauga County grand jury has indicted Tyler Merkle, a 26-year-old Chardon Schools employee, for allegedly having inappropriate conduct with a 15-year-old Chardon High School student.
Merkle was arrested April 12 following an investigation by Geauga County Sheriff’s Office detectives.
Authorities had been alerted earlier to possible misconduct after the student’s mother found inappropriate letters Merkle had sent the female.
Merkle was placed on administrative leave from school, where he served as a part-time tutor, study hall monitor and assistant football coach.
A grand jury heard testimony in the case last week and handed down an indictment Tuesday morning.
Merkle was indicted on 10 counts of sexual battery, felonies of the third degree; one count of illegal use of a minor in nude-oriented material or performance, a second-degree felony; and one count of illegal use of a minor in nude-oriented material or performance, a fifth-degree felony.
The alleged inappropriate conduct occurred between Dec. 1, 2015, and April 12, 2016.
He previously had posted 10 percent of his $50,000 bond and was released from jail. Prosecutors had asked his bond be revoked after Merkle admitted to having contact with the victim through a digital music application called Spotify.
Geauga County Common Pleas Court Judge Forrest Burt allowed Merkle to remain free on bond, but imposed additional conditions, including house arrest, the wearing of a GPS monitor and surrender of his cell phone.
He also is not be allowed to use his home phone or any other phone without one of his parents being present, and further is prohibited from using any computers, tablets or any other electronic means of communication.
Former Ledgemont Youth Football Treasurer Sentenced
The former treasurer of the Ledgemont Youth Football League who was indicted for stealing more than $10,000 from the league was sentenced Wednesday.
Meredith Landrus, 42, of Sidley Road, Thompson Township, entered a change of plea April 18, admitting to grand theft, a fourth-degree felony.
She faces up to 18 months in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000.
Coverage of the sentencing will be first published online at www.geaugamapleleaf.com, as the hearing was held after the deadline for this week’s issue.
Route 306 to Close
The Ohio Department of Transportation will close a portion of state Route 306 (Chillicothe Road) south of U.S. Route 422 in Bainbridge Township for up to 60 days for culvert replacement, Bainbridge Township Service Director Jim Stanek said Monday.
In March, ODOT officials announced plans for the project, which is scheduled to begin about June 1.
Stanek said he had received word from ODOT the project will begin with the relocation of a sewer line, which will take about two weeks.
One lane of traffic will be maintained during that part of the project, he told township trustees.
After the sewer line is relocated, the road will be closed for the culvert work.
Stanek said the closure will begin June 13 for more than a month.
The affected area is south of Pilgrim Village and north of Taylor May Road near Beacon Hill.
Stanek said ODOT will install electric signs within the next few days warning motorists about the closure and will post detour signs.
