Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper, accused in sex crimes cases, free on bond

Christopher Ward, a veteran Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper, is accused of sex crimes stemming from a 2015 incident and another in 2018:

• Ward is accused of felony gross sexual imposition
• He also is accused of misdemeanor sexual imposition
• Ward bonded out of jail Tuesday afternoon
• He is to be in court again on March 28

EARLIER REPORT

Christopher Ward, indicted on sex charges in Preble County, was arrested Monday evening on two counts of felony gross sexual imposition and one count of misdemeanor sexual imposition, according to the Miami Valley Jails online site.

Tuesday afternoon, a judge set bond at $20,000 for the 44-year-old trooper, who is based in Preble County. Ward was released on bond hours later.

He is to be in court again March 28.

The charges stem from incidents alleged to have occurred Jan. 17, 2015, and March 17, 2018.

Ward is on unpaid leave pending an internal investigation, according to a state patrol official. He has been with the state patrol since 1998. According to his personnel records, he worked at the state patrol’s Dayton post before transferring to the Piqua Criminal Patrol in 2017.

Ward was arrested in Preble County but was booked into the Butler County Jail.

A woman who identifies herself as the mother of the alleged victim in the 2015 case told WHIO-TV’s Sean Cudahy the case has been tough on her family.

According to a spokesman with the state Attorney General’s office, the 2015 case stems from an incident reported to have involved Ward, who was on duty, during a traffic stop.

“My daughter has been through heck,” the mother said. “She doesn’t like to be around cops. She gets really nervous around them.”

The mother said news of Ward’s arrest is a relief.

“I don’t know what’s going to come of this because they haven’t really told us anything yet. But if it helps anybody else, if it keeps them out of the same situation, it’s worth it,” she said.

According to the spokesman for the attorney general, the 2018 case involved an incident alleged to have occurred while Ward was off duty.

We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.