Sick: Ohio Cop Indicted For Raping Disabled Woman

A Clermont County grand jury indicted a Village of Bethel, Ohio police officer on rape charges Thursday.

Brandon Brenes, 25, was booked into the Clermont County Jail later the same day after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Brenes faces charges including rape and sexual battery. According to the Clermont County Clerk of Courts, the alleged offense happened Dec. 28, 2014.

Bethel Village Administrator Travis Dotson said Brenes submitted his resignation to the department Thursday.

He was promoted to full-time officer with the Bethel Police Department in November, Dotson said, but was placed on administrative leave Dec. 30.

Officials said he was indicted after a lengthy investigation. Clermont County Assistant Prosecutor Scott O’Reilly told WCPO’s Jason Law that alcohol was involved in the incident.

The original complaint came from a home in the Village of Amelia. The prosecutor’s office said Amelia police and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are handling the case.

The grand jury report states Brenes, “did engage in sexual conduct, … when the other person’s ability to resist or consent is substantially impaired because of mental or physical condition or because of advanced age.”

Bethel officials issued a statement Thursday afternoon saying:

Like the public at large, the Village of Bethel takes all allegations of criminal wrongdoing against its employees very seriously. While the allegations in this particular case are significant, we are unable to comment on the merits of the allegations or the status of the legal proceedings. The Village of Bethel is not involved in the investigation, prosecution or defense of the individual involved in this matter. At this time, we will reserve further comment until the appropriate legal proceedings are concluded.

Dotson said Brenes has been on paid administrative leave since Dec. 30, 2014. He said the offense reportedly happened outside of the city’s jurisdiction.

O’Reilly said Brenes faces up to 11 years in custody if convicted on the rape charge and up to 5 years if convicted on the sexual battery charge. A jury will have an option to convict on either count.

While officials could not say if Brenes was in custody, they did say he was scheduled to be arraigned in Clermont County Court at 10 a.m. Friday.

No other details have been released.