CHARDON, OHIO: Prosecutors say they’re preparing to go to trial in the case of a former Ohio State Highway Patrol commander charged with engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct with a 16-year-old girl.
The News-Herald in Willoughby reports a pretrial was held on Tuesday in the case of 45-year-old Brant Zemelka, but nothing was resolved.
Court records allege Zemelka inappropriately touched the girl during a high school graduation party in May that Zemelka was hosting for his son.
He’s scheduled to go to trial on a count of gross sexual imposition later this month. Zemelka, of Middlefield Village, faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted.
He remains free on a personal recognizance bond.
Defense attorney Todd Petersen didn’t return a call seeking comment.