3 facing sex charges involving young girl

Trio arrested this week are being held in the city jail.

MIDDLETOWN — A 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a couple living in a Lemon Twp. mobile home park, according to police.

Monroe police arrested William Bayless and Brenda Middleton, both 35, of 3350 S. Main St. #33, on felony charges of rape and gross sexual imposition on Monday, March 1. Brandon Stidham, 22, of 3350 S. Main St. #3, also was arrested and charged with gross sexual imposition.

Monroe police Lt. Brian Curlis said the girl told a Verity Middle School resource officer of the alleged abuse. “I’m glad investigators were able to act so quickly,” he said. “They were able to gather enough evidence and make all three arrests in a timely manner.”

Curlis would not reveal whether the charges were tied to one or multiple incidents, but said a grand jury “may want to add more counts and charges” when they hear the case.

All three suspects are currently being held under $25,000 bond in the Middletown City Jail. They are scheduled to appear at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 11, for preliminary hearings in Middletown Municipal Court.

The girl’s father said Wednesday he does not know the specifics of the allegations, saying his daughter had played airsoft games in a nearby field with the three suspects in the past.

“They go out there and shoot each other, like war games,” he said. “She had been playing together with them and got to know them, then they started going over and hanging out with them.”

The man said he has not pressed his daughter to tell him what happened. “I’m still at the stage where I would rather not know,” he said. “If I did know I might go over to their place and do something I would regret. The men of law are trying to keep me from doing that.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or at rgauthier@coxohio.com.

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