Published September 10, 2007 11:08 pm - The Madison Township man accused of having sex with two minor girls is still in jail after failing to post a $75,000 bond.
Sex offender still behind bars
By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com Star Beacon
MADISON TOWNSHIP — The Madison Township man accused of having sex with two minor girls is still in jail after failing to post a $75,000 bond.
Paul D. Brunelle-Apley, 26, of 128 Wailele, Madison Township, a convicted sexual offender, was arrested Friday by township police after he delivered flowers and a teddy bear to a 14-year-old girl Madison High School to apologize forcheating on her with a 15-year-old girl, police said.
Brunelle-Apley is charged with eight counts of unlawful sexual contact with two minor girls, Painesville Municipal Court records show.
If Brunelle-Apley posts bond, it will be under the condition that he have no contact with any minors, court officials said.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday in Painesville Municipal Court.
The mother of one victim was upset when her daughter came home with the gifts from Brunelle-Apley, who left the flowers and stuffed animal with the high school office staff, Superintendent James Herrholtz said.
The victim picked up the gifts at the end of the school day, Herrholtz said.
“By no means did (Brunelle-Apley) get any further than the front office. All deliveries for students are taken to the office and held for the students until the end of the day,” Herrholtz said.
Police believe Brunelle-Apley considered the 14-year-old his girlfriend, Detective Dan Boerner said.
Madison Township police believe Brunelle-Apley had sexual contacts with the 15-year-old victim at least twice between July 1 and Aug. 26.
Both girls admit to having had sexual contact with Brunelle-Apley, police reports show.
Brunelle-Apley was arrested and charged after police questioned him about his relationship and contacts with the two girls. He was transported immediately to LakeEast Hospital for required testing for sexually transmitted diseases, and then was booked at Lake County Jail, where he remains in custody, Boerner said.
Brunelle-Apley has a criminal record from Ashtabula County dating to 2003 on similar sex-related offenses. Known then as Paul D. Brunelle, he was convicted Jan. 28, 2003, of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony. He served nine months at Lake Erie Correctional Institution in Conneaut and was released July 31, 2004, according to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections records. As part of his sentence, Brunelle-Apley was also placed on five years of supervised probation by the Ohio Adult Parole Authority office in Ashtabula.
The Ohio Sex Offender Database (www.esorn.ag.state.oh.us) lists 32 registered sex offenders living in the Madison Local School District, though Brunelle-Apley is not listed in the database. The offenders range in age from 21 to 79 years old.