$100,000 Bail in Case Involving Two Children

Mary Alice Reporting –

An alleged case had a hearing Monday afternoon to establish bail for the accused.

The goal of the prosecution and the defense was to explain why bail should or should not be established for 35-year-old Brock Croy, who is charged with endangering children; as well as, rape and gross sexual imposition, both with a sexually violent predator specification.

New Philadelphia Police Detective Chaz Willet provided witness testimony on the events leading to the investigation, which comes down to the two children, both under the age of 13, telling their mother that while at an in-home daycare, Croy, the daycare providers spouse, had touched both children inappropriately over the course of roughly a year.

Assistant Prosecutor Kristine Beard asked the judge to keep the defendant locked up with no bail, citing a previous allegation with another child under 13-years-old that was made several years ago and despite that circumstance, he put himself in another situation where accusation are being made again.

“And they are voluntarily telling their mother that he has in fact given them a bath, when he’s not supposed to be doing that, that he has exposed himself to them, and that has been an ongoing course of conduct. He presents a serious risk to the children in this community. If he’s released, he clearly cannot control himself cause he continues to do this.”

On the defense side, Attorney Craig McKinney noted that Croy has relatives in the community and that he was not a flight risk since he had taken a trip and returned to Tuscarawas County, even with allegations against him.

“There is no substantial risk, no physical harm as Detective Willet admitted in cross examination. My client has had no contact [with any of the alleged victims] since August 31^st. He has family ties, he has employment, he does not have the financial resources to meet an enormous amount of bond.”

In the end, Judge Michael Ernest said that the prosecution had not met the required terms, under the law, for no bail. Bail was set at $100,000.