CINCINNATI (WKRC) — A new legislation has been enacted that prohibits The law aimed at protecting children from sexual predators goes into effect in Ohio on Wednesday.
The law was enacted after the case involving Father Geoff Drew. A ex-priest who was found guilty in 2021 for sexually assaulting a young boy when he worked as a music minister at Saint Jude Parish located in Green Township. For many years, Drew has faced accusations of grooming children, however, no charges were brought against him for this behavior because Ohio did not have explicit statutes addressing grooming at that time.
The new law classifies grooming as a misdemeanor, with the potential for felony charges for repeat offenders or if the child is under 13 years old.
