Former church volunteer indicted on child sex charges

SANDUSKY — An Erie County grand jury recently indicted a Norwalk man for allegedly sexually assaulting young girls in a Milan Township church.Kenneth Rose, 56, of the 100 block of North Pleasant St., was indicted on three counts of gross sexual imposition, all third-degree felonies.Erie County sheriff's deputies arrested Rose March 23 after a young girl's parents told police Rose allegedly inappropriately touched her in the basement of Milan Friends Church on East Mason Road, the sheriff's office previously told the Register.He was originally charged with two counts of gross sexual imposition. The third count in the indictment comes after police learned there was a second victim, according to Erie County sheriff's office Detective Alexis Dauch."During the initial investigation, Rose had disclosed another victim," Dauch said.Police then followed up with the victim, who is younger than 13 years old, according to the indictment.The alleged sex offense purportedly occurred Saturday, March 17, during a "church function," Dauch said. Rose allegedly touched the girl inappropriately in the basement of the church.The first victim, another young girl, told police she and Rose were alone in the church basement on two occasions when he allegedly touched them inappropriately. In all of the three alleged instances, the children's parents were in another part of the church.The first victim was allegedly assaulted on Feb. 25 and March 18, both of which were on days of Sunday church service.Rose worked as a children's director, a volunteer position, at the church. Milan Friends Church Pastor Paul Campbell said Rose no longer works there.Police believe there are as many as five victims and are continuing their investigation, Dauch said.Rose remains in the Erie County jail on a $100,000 bond.Visit our Erie County Common Pleas court hub for more storiesReach reporter Brandon Addeo at brandonaddeo@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @BrandonAddeo and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterKENNETH N ROSE