RAVENNA — Two Ravenna residents are facing felony charges in Portage County Common Pleas Court related to child sexual abuse allegations first investigated by city police a decade ago.
Court records show that after 10 years of on-and-off investigative work, Deric R. Cleavenger, 48, of 125 Clinton St., was indicted recently on three counts of rape, all first-degree felonies, and five counts of gross sexual imposition, all third-degree felonies.
In addition, Carol Cleavenger, also 48 and of the same address, was indicted the same day on charges including endangering children and obstructing justice, both third-degree felonies.
Deric Cleavenger pleaded not guilty in common pleas court on Friday. He posted $150,000 bond and is free but on electronically monitored house arrest. Judge Laurie Pittman also ordered he have no contact with the alleged victim, and set a trial date set in March.
Carol Cleavenger pleaded not guilty and posted $100,000 bond on Dec. 29 in Judge Becky Doherty's courtroom. She is free on electronically monitored house arrest, with work release privileges and a no-contact order regarding the alleged victim, pending future court dates. Doherty set a February trial date.
Ravenna police could not verify the status or nature of the Cleavengers' relationship, other than to note that they share an address, though court records appear to show they were married in Portage County in October 1991.
Deric Cleavenger's indictment alleges that on at least eight occasions between September 1994 and September 1999, he raped and sexually abused a child victim under the age of 13. It is also alleged that during that time, Carol Cleavenger "violated a duty of care, protection or support" that resulted in physical harm to the victim, according to her indictment.
While he said he could not go into specifics due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, Ravenna police Capt. David Rarrick said the allegations against Deric Cleavenger first were brought to the department's attention in November 2007. It was at this time that Carol Cleavenger allegedly lied to a Ravenna police detective to protect Deric Cleavenger, according to her indictment.
Detectives collected statements and interviewed witnesses — with some of those interviews done so long ago they are recorded on VHS tapes, Rarrick said. The investigation was suspended sometime in 2008, he said.
The victim again contacted Ravenna police in April 2016, and the case was reopened. Further interviews were conducted and statements taken at that time, Rarrick said.
In December the case was reopened for review by the Portage County Prosecutor's Office and presented to a grand jury the middle of last month, Rarrick said.
"We worked on the case for quite some time," he said.
dobrien@recordpub.com
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