VINTON – On July 12, 2019, an arrest was made involving a report of a child sexual assault. The Vinton County Sheriff’s Office received a report on June 26, 2019, from Nationwide Children’s Hospital of a 9yr old boy being sexually assaulted by a family member. Deputies, along with Children Service’s Section of South Central Job and Family Services, investigated the complaint. After the investigation and interviews, enough probable cause was found to make the arrest. Mitch E. Ward age 33 of State Route 160 in Vinton was arrested and charged with Sexual Battery-Felony of the 2nd degree, Endangering Children-Felony of the 2nd degree, and Gross Sexual Imposition-Felony of the 3rd degree, and taken to the South Eastern Ohio Regional Jail. A bond hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
This investigation was handled by South Central Job and Family Services Children Services section, and Deputies Michelle Thomas and Lacey Casto of the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office.
