CHESTERLAND, Ohio — Former Chester Township police officer Nicholas Iacampo has been indicted by a Geauga County grand jury on a felony charge of sexual battery as well as a misdemeanor charge.
The case against Iacampo began in August, when he was first accused of and arrested for sexual battery involving a teenager. The complaint was made to Geauga County Sheriff's deputies while Iacampo was on duty.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office was brought in as a "third-party" investigative unit because Iacampo's mother is Chardon Municipal Court Judge Terri Stupica. In addition, Lake County Prosecutor Charles Coulson was brought in as the special prosecutor in the case. Coulson later dropped the sexual battery charge, deeming it unconstitutional. However, the criminal investigation continued.
The case was presented to a Geauga County grand jury on Friday. Iacampo was indicted on one count of sexual battery and one count of contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a child. He will be due back in court for arraignment on Dec. 13.
The previous charge against Iacampo was based on the Ohio Revised Code that specifies a felony charge if the offender is a peace officer, the other person is a minor, and the offender is more than two years older than the other person. Whomever violates this section is charged with sexual battery.
But in 2016, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled the statute unconstitutional, stating that police officers cannot be held to a higher standard than the rest of the public when it comes to having sex with minors. However, the state's legislative branch failed to amend the statute to reflect the court's ruling, meaning the sexual battery charge against Iacampo would need to be dismissed.
Iacampo resigned as a member of the Chester Township Police Department in September.
Chester Township Police Chief Craig Young provided the following statement after the indictment by the grand jury:
"The members of this organization are devoted stewards of public safety and are willing to pay the ultimate price, if need be, to ensure this community’s safety. No one is above the law and our personnel are held to strict standards of conduct to ensure faithful service and protection; our community deserves nothing less. The recent investigation involving the reported misconduct of a former officer in no way reflects any type of accepted behavior by this office; the members of this organization find this reported behavior appalling. Please understand that a resignation was accepted on the advice of our legal counsel, as terminations are often appealed and could result in a reinstatement regardless of the circumstances leading to the termination. Resignations are final.
"The support for our personnel is overwhelming. Our community members do not sit idly when our officers need assistance. Chester Township represents the best example of community policing, where the community and those sworn to protect it work so closely with one another for positive outcomes. The relationship between the police and the community is why we enjoy such a low crime rate. We are committed to being the best police agency, fully capable of handling your safety needs.
"We would like to thank the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Prosecutor’s Office for their diligent work on this case. Although the legal system is not always expeditious, time and patience are required on complex investigations. I would strongly encourage any member of our community to reach out to me regarding their concerns."
Previous Reporting:
- Chester Township police officer Nicholas Iacampo, previously charged with sexual battery, resigns
- Sexual battery charge against Chester Township police officer dismissed; new charges still possible
- 'He is messing around with my 16-year-old daughter': 911 call of father reporting Geauga County officer's alleged assault on daughter released
- 'There is a lot of anger and frustration here': Chester Township police chief speaks out about officer charged with sexual battery
- Geauga County police officer facing charge after alleged sexual battery against teen