New victims lead to more sex charges against former trooper

PREBLE COUNTY — A Preble County grand jury has indicted a former Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper on two additional counts of gross sexual imposition today, according to court records filed this morning in Preble County Common Pleas Court.

Christopher Ward, 45, now faces seven felony charges in the case.

Court records show the two new charges involve two victims who were not included on the previous indictment.

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Ward was previously indicted in July on three counts of gross sexual imposition and two counts of sexual battery for incidents involving four victims, court records show.

The newest charges stem from incidents reported to have happened between November 2011 and December 2012, according to the new indictment obtained by News Center 7’s John Bedell.

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Court records show Ward has been ordered to appear in court on the new charges.

Ward was previously released from jail after posting bond following his arrest earlier this year.

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If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison.

The alleged assaults with five of the victims occurred within the course of his employment. The sixth victim is a minor.

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Ward’s trial is scheduled to begin on Nov. 12.