A 29-year-old Amherst man who worked as a paraprofessional for Oberlin City Schools is being held in the Lorain County Jail on a $750,000 bond after a grand jury indictment accusing him of raping a child younger than 10. Skylar Frederick was initially arrested on Oct. 8 after being secretly indicted by the Lorain County grand jury, and he remains jailed as the case moves through the courts.
According to court records cited by the Morning Journal, the grand jury indicted Frederick on one count of rape and six counts of gross sexual imposition. Frederick is accused of sexually abusing a child under the age of 10. Separately, loraindaily.com reported that Frederick, 29, was indicted Sept. 28 on one count of rape and six counts of gross sexual imposition, including a charge involving a child younger than 10.
School District Responds, Confirms Unpaid Leave
Oberlin City School District placed Frederick on unpaid leave pending resolution of the criminal case, the district said. Melissa Linebrink, the district's marketing and communications specialist, said Frederick was placed on leave after officials learned of the charges, and she said the charges do not involve any Oberlin students.
Linebrink said student safety and well-being are the district's top priority, and added that the district respects the criminal justice process and will continue to monitor the situation. Those statements, along with the confirmation of Frederick's employment and leave status, come from the same district spokeswoman cited in the original report.
Attorney Could Not Be Reached
Andrew Ortner is identified as Frederick's attorney, but neither Frederick nor Ortner could be reached for comment as of Monday, according to the report. No plea, court hearing schedule, or disposition has been reported in connection with the indictment.
Under Ohio law, prosecutions for rape do not require a victim to prove physical resistance, according to the Ohio Revised Code. Separate statutory language addressing gross sexual imposition convictions states that courts shall impose a mandatory prison term for a felony of the third degree when specified prior-conviction and victim-age conditions apply, according to the Ohio Revised Code. Those provisions describe general statutory requirements and do not by themselves establish what penalties, if any, could apply in Frederick's case.
Members of the public can track developments in the case through Lorain County's court system. The Lorain County Clerk of Courts says computerized case records are available online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
