A sergeant with the Chardon Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol faces a felony charge after an incident in which he allegedly engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a minor.
Brant A. Zemelka, of Middlefield, is charged with gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony. He was released on personal recognizance bond after his initial appearance Tuesday in Chardon Municipal Court and later was released from the Geauga County Safety Center.
Zemelka, accompanied by Chardon attorney Todd Petersen, appeared before retired Geauga County Common Pleas Court Judge Fred Inderlied via video conferencing from the county jail.
He faces six to 18 months in prison, a maximum $5,000 fine, five years of post release control as well as registration as a Tier I sex offender.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled at 1:15 p.m. on June 27 in municipal court.
According to the complaint, filed June 13 in municipal court, Zemelka had sexual contact with the alleged victim on or about May 28-29 at his Glen Valley Drive home.
A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told the Geauga County Maple Leaf the alleged victim, who is 16, was attending a graduation party Zemelka was hosting for his son, who recently graduated from Cardinal High School.
The minor’s father also attended the party, the source said.
The alleged victim told investigators that Zemelka put his foot in her private area and massaged it, according to the complaint. He also kissed her and forced his hand down her pants, touching the top of her private area.
The complaint further alleges a witness saw Zemelka massaging the alleged victim’s private area with his foot.
Zemelka told the alleged victim’s father during a telephone call that his foot may have fallen on the minor’s private area, according to the complaint.
Zemelka will be reassigned to administrative duty at the state patrol’s Warren headquarters, pending the outcome of the case against him, OSHP public information officer Sgt. Vincent Shirey said.
He added Zemelka’s gun and badge have been surrendered.
Shirey also said the highway patrol will conduct an internal investigation into Zemelka’s conduct and decide on possible discipline when the charges against him are resolved.
Shirey said he looked at Zemelka’s personnel file Monday and did not see any citations or other discipline in his file.
Video from Tuesday morning’s initial appearance will be uploaded shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.