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October 15, 2004
Middletown man arrested for child abuse
An 82-year-old Middletown man has been indicted in Clermont County for the alleged repeated sexual abuse of a child.
Clifford Vangilder, 500 Cambridge Drive, was indicted on four counts of rape and four counts of gross sexual imposition, all felonies, Wednesday by a Clermont County grand jury, said Don White, Clermont County prosecutor.
White said Vangilder had sexual contact with a female relative, who was then under the age of 10, beginning in 2002.
“It occurred at least eight times,” White said. The alleged instances of abuse happened in Clermont County, he said.
Thursday afternoon, Vangilder was arrested by Middletown police at his home and booked into the Middletown City Jail. A man who answered the phone at the residence several hours before his arrest hung up when asked for comment about the charges.
The child and her parents moved from Loveland to Cape Girardeau, Mo., earlier this year and law enforcement officials were contacted in that city after the victim told some school officials about the abuse, Loveland police Detective Hugh Bomske said.
On July 22, following a preliminary investigation, Loveland police were contacted by Cape Girardeau police about the abuse, which had occurred when Vangilder was visiting the family in Loveland, Bomske said.
He declined to comment on the specifics of the investigation or evidence, but said “there is very solid evidence that this occurred.”
The detective said there is a possibility of other victims, “but only within the family.”
Middletown police Juvenile Detective Bobby Reese said Vangilder sent a letter to the family in Missouri confessing to the molestation and asking for their forgiveness.
Reese said he assisted both departments with the investigation after being contacted by Cape Girardeau police.
“There is a videotape of an interview with the girl,” Reese said. “She originally said some of the abuse occurred in Middletown, but Vangilder confessed that the abuse occurred in Loveland.”
Reese said he took the case to the Butler County Child Assault Team for review.
“Because of his age and his confession that says the abuse occurred in Clermont County, the team decided to let Clermont County have the whole case,” Reese said.
Posted by Nealus at October 15, 2004 10:43 AM
Comments
On this case of this abused child from a family member.I know the detective personally and you will never find one who will fight harder for the safety of our children Thank you Dective Bomske
Posted by: Beth at November 28, 2004 05:26 AM
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