A girl’s conversation with a friend has led to the indictment of a Plain City man.
The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Michael Andrew Egerton, 38, of 9041 U.S. 42, Plain City, charging him with two counts of rape, three counts of gross sexual imposition and one count of sexual battery.
EGERTON
According to court documents, between April 2018 and April 2019, Egerton allegedly repeatedly raped a female family member. The alleged rapes began when the girl was 12 years old.
Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said the girl eventually told a friend about what was being done to her.
“That friend did the right thing and told her parents,” Phillips said.
He said law enforcement officials were contacted. As part of an investigation, the victim went through a forensic interview and talked about what was done to her.
Phillips said the alleged rapes “took place over a period of time.”
The prosecutor said there is no indicator the girl’s mother had any knowledge of the alleged rape.
He said one of the rape counts deal with the allegations from before the girl turned 13. He explained that rape convictions involving victims under the age of 13 carry a potential life prison term.
The prosecutor said the other rape charge involves the allegations after the girl turned 13. Phillips said Egerton used force against the girl.
He explained that courts have determined “not a lot of force is necessary in a familiar relationship because of the power dynamic.”
He added that the force does not need to be physical but can be “subtle and psychological.”
Phillips said it is not uncommon for a child to be reluctant to talk about abuse.
“Often times, the victim is not aware or they are afraid or they are embarrassed to tell anybody, but maybe they tell a friend,” Phillips said.
He said it is important that when a child does come forward to a friend or an adult, law enforcement is contacted.
“We take these allegations very seriously and they are a top priority for investigation and prosecution,” Phillips said. “We will do whatever we can to protect the child and make sure justice is done.”
Also indicted was:
– Tabitha Ulsh, 44, of Dayton Correctional Institution. Ulsh is charged with one count of assault, stemming from an alleged attack on a prison employee while Ulsh was a resident at the Ohio Reformatory for Women.
Ulsh is currently serving a life sentence for aggravated murder, felonious assault, aggravated robbery, kidnapping and tampering with evidence convictions.
In 2002, Ulsh admitted to going to a Findlay-area bar and spiking a Dayton-area businessman’s drink with sleeping pills. She then drove the man to Fostoria, where he was beaten by Ulsh’s boyfriend.
The business man briefly escaped and ran down the street, calling out for help. The man was ultimately was stopped by the boyfriend’s half-brother who helped beat the victim and load his body into the victim’s sport utility vehicle.
Ulsh then drove the man to a wooded area off Interstate 75 near where she and her boyfriend buried him in a shallow grave. Ulsh and the boyfriend beat the man in the vehicle where he ultimately died.
Ulsh and the boyfriend used the victim’s sport utility vehicle and his credit cards as they drove to Mexico. They were arrested when they crossed the Mexican border back into Texas a few days later.