Indictments involve sex crimes with minor, person with developmental disabilities
Allen J. Kerns (Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office)
Christopher Young (Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office)
NEW PHILADELPHIA – A pair of recent indictments in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court revealed accusations of sex crimes, one involving a minor and one involving a person with developmental disabilities.
The Grand Jury on Feb. 28 indicted 37-year-old Allen J. Kerns of Newcomerstown on five felony counts, including two counts of rape, for sex crimes involving a person with developmental disabilities. The alleged crimes took place in 2017, but Tuscarawas County Prosecutor Ryan Styer says the allegations came to light more recently.
Kerns is in the Tuscarawas County Jail and is scheduled to be arraigned on March 11.
The Grand Jury on Feb. 21 indicted 36-year-old Christopher D. Young Junior of Dennison on five felony counts involving sex crimes with a 15-year-old (two counts pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, and importuning), along with felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault involving a minor.
Tuscarawas County Prosecutor Ryan Styer says New Philadelphia police witnessed the alleged assault in Uhrichsville while on a lunch break, which led to further investigation by the Dennison Police Department and additional charges.
Young is out of the Tuscarawas County Jail after posting a $100,000 bond and pleading not guilty at his arraignment. A telephone pretrial is scheduled for Monday.