Parents in Painesville are rattled after learning that a Tier III sex offender is listed as the man behind a now-closed indoor playground that catered to families in the city’s downtown. Anthony Tartt Jr., who has told investigators he “builds businesses for a living,” has denied working around children, yet public records connect him to the Playtime at Adventure Acres name. Neighbors and the property’s landlord say the space is no longer operating, and a “for rent” sign now hangs in the window. Lake County officials say they are reviewing whether Tartt may have violated the terms of his probation.
Business filings connect Tartt to Playtime
According to reporting by News 5 Cleveland, Ohio business filings show Playtime Party and Productivity LLC registered at 176 Chestnut Street in Painesville, with Tartt listed as an organizer. News 5 also reports Tartt pleaded guilty to four charges in 2023 and that his probation officer told investigators Tartt failed to notify the office about his connection to the Playtime venture, which triggered a Lake County Sheriff’s Office investigation. The Better Business Bureau’s listing for Playtime identifies Tartt as the managing member and indicates the business file was opened on Oct. 27, 2025.
What the court files say
Records in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas detail a 15-count indictment returned in May 2021 that includes multiple counts of rape and gross sexual imposition. The indictment labels Tartt a “sexually violent predator” and carries case number 660551-21-CR, according to the Cuyahoga County indictment (PDF). Prosecutors allege the crimes took place between 2019 and 2020 and accuse Tartt of victimizing two girls, one younger than 13 and another younger than 10.
Law and local probe
Ohio’s newly enacted law bars Tier II and Tier III sex offenders from paid or volunteer work that involves “extensive and unaccompanied” contact with children, but it does not directly forbid an offender from forming or owning a child-focused business, News 5 Cleveland reports. That gap has been flagged by legal observers as a potential ownership loophole that can unsettle parents while prosecutors and probation officials sort out whether reporting rules for offenders were followed.
Legal implications
Criminal-defense attorney Ian Friedman told investigators that under the current wording of the statute “this can be done,” referring to ownership of such a business, though he and others note lawmakers may need to tighten the language if the public wants to bar offenders from owning enterprises that cater to children. Prosecutors could still pursue probation-violation charges if Lake County authorities determine Tartt failed to disclose the business connection that Tier III registrants are required to report, and local officials say they will keep evaluating the case as the investigation moves forward.
