A Windmill Drive man could be facing more than six decades in prison after allegedly watching then raping a child.
Timothy Allen Bruce, 50, of 460 Windmill Drive, Apt. 41, Marysville, has been indicted on four counts of rape along with three counts of gross sexual imposition and one count each of voyeurism, importuning and disseminating material harmful to juveniles. According to court documents, between July and August 2017, Bruce repeatedly raped a girl. Union County Prosecutor said the man knew the girl.
According to court documents, the child was 7 years old when the alleged rapes began. He also allegedly watched the girl while she was nude.
The matter came to light recently when the child visited a relative out of state.
“She was away from her abuser and she felt safe to tell this relative,” Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said.
He said the relative went to police in that area and those police contacted local authorities.
“Anytime a child is a victim, it is a tragic case,” Phillips said. “We want to protect the child and hold the defendant accountable.”
Additionally, Phillips said it can be difficult to prosecute a case with a child victim. He said children often, “don’t fully understand the concept of time.”
He said that interviewers try to use life and annual milestones like birthdays or holidays to help a child identify when something happened.
He added that Bruce has “some mental disability” which could also make prosecution more difficult.
Phillips stressed that parents need “be aware of who has access to your child.”
“I think there is a lot of situations where people see on television that this sort of stuff is done by strangers, in reality, especially with children, it is often the people who have access to them,” Phillips has said.
He said parents need to talk with their children and be on the lookout for changes in behavior or attitude, beyond what is age-appropriate.
Also indicted was:
– Matthew Curtis Phipps, 29, of Westerville. Phipps is charged with one count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
According to court documents, on Aug. 30, Phipps’ estranged wife, who lives in Plain City, allowed Phipps to borrow her 2009 Toyota Scion TC to run errands while she was at work. She told Phipps to have the vehicle back by 1:45 p.m. so she could get home.
“Matthew failed to return and would not answer calls from (the estranged wife),” according to court documents.
According to court documents, Phipps and the estranged wife eventually spoke and he, “advised her he was not bringing the vehicle back.”
If convicted, Phipps could face as many as 18 months in prison.
– Anthony W. Nelson, 47, of Xenia. Nelson is charged with one count of tampering with evidence, stemming from an incident in Nov. 2017. If convicted, Nelson could face as many as five years in prison.
– Kevin Lynn Looker, 46, of 786 Meadows Drive. Looker is charged with one count of theft of drugs. According to court documents, on Sept. 18, Looker allegedly stole Tizanidine, a short-acting muscle relaxer. Court documents call it a “dangerous drug.”
If convicted, Looker could face as many as 18 months in prison.