Ex-Conneaut teacher indicted on sex charges

By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

June 22, 2009 11:47 pm

— CONNEAUT — A former Conneaut Middle School teacher was indicted by the Ashtabula County grand jury Friday on charges alleging he had sex with a 17-year-old high school student.
Jeffrey Bickel, 25, of Cortland, has been charged with five counts of sexual battery and one count of disseminating material harmful to a juvenile, according to the indictment. If found guilty, he faces 25 years in prison, officials said.
Prosecutors allege Bickel had sexual contact with the girl between November and March. He also reportedly sent nude photographs of himself to the girl’s cellular telephone, police have said.
The situation surfaced in mid-March, when Children’s Services received an anonymous tip. The agency contacted Conneaut police and an investigation was launched.
Police, armed with a search warrant, removed material from Bickel’s Conneaut’s residence, according to court documents. He has since moved to Cortland.
Bickel was bound over to the grand jury in May.
Bickel taught music at the middle school and also served as assistant band director. Bickel was hired last summer. His contract was not renewed by the school board at an April meeting.
Other indictments include Amos L. Stewart, 37, of 345 W. 43rd St., Ashtabula, on four counts of rape and six counts of sexual battery involving a juvenile in Ashtabula, court records show. The alleged incidents took place between June of 1996 and October of 2002.
Dale Tackett, 43, of 5718 S. Wright St., Apt 3, Kingsville Township, was indicted on one count of theft of a motor vehicle stemming from an April 27 incident in Ashtabula, court records show.
Andy Karpovich, 29, of 2121 W. 117th St., Cleveland was indicted on one count of burglary stemming from a Jan. 25 incident on Depot Street in Conneaut, court records show.
William Puthoff, 47, of 4867 State Road, Ashtabula Township, was indicted on failure to comply and received stolen property following an April 21 incident in Ashtabula that involved a pursuit with speeds of up to 90 miles per hour in 35 miles per hour zones, court records show.
Arnel E. Phillipp, 37, of 416 W. 30th St., Ashtabula, was indicted on a charge of receiving stolen property stemming from an incident at Ashtabula Township’s Ashtabula Tractor Supply Company between Nov. 24, 2008 and Dec. 2, 2008, court records show.
Donald L. Tingley, 50, of 1541 Westford Road., Jamestown, Pa., was indicted on two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence stemming from an April 16 incident in Ashtabula, court records show. The charge included a specification related to a prior incident involving a conviction on a similar charge.
Douglas L. Montgomery III, 37, of 4733 Topper Ave., Ashtabula, was indicted on two counts of kidnapping stemming from an April 30 incident in Ashtabula involving a small child and a woman. He was also charged with felonious assault for allegedly attacking the woman with a knife, court recods show.
Jason C. Barnard, 31, of 801 Middle Road, Conneaut, was charged with possession of drugs, illegally assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs and having weapons under a disability following a May 14 incident in Conneaut, court records show.
Carey Dent, 56, of 5689 Route 86, of Windsor Township, was indicted on a count of domestic violence and attempted rape stemming from a May 20 incident in Windsor Township.

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