ASHLAND — A trial involving a former county employee is set to begin in a month. He faces charges from two separate incidents that involve sexual impropriety with minors.
Here’s where it stands and what to expect when one of two trials begin on March 11.
The charges
Jordan Stroub, 31, faces two fourth-degree felony charges that were filed against him under secret indictment on June 17.
One of the charges (menacing by stalking) stem from an allegation that Stroub sent “nude images” to a 15 year-old girl between June 1, 2023 and March 15, 2024.
The allegation led to Stroub’s dismissal from county employment just days later, personnel files revealed. He had worked as a full-time maintenance worker in 2020, and had been promoted to assistant maintenance superintendent in June 2021.
Another charge — unlawful sexual conduct with a minor — stems from allegations of incidents that occurred between Aug. 1, 2013 through Dec. 31, 2013.
The girl, at the time, would have been 13; Stroub was 20.
Where are we now?
Stroub, through his attorney Joe Kearns, pleaded “not guilty” to both charges during an arraignment at Ashland County Common Pleas Court on June 25.
On Sept. 6, Kearns filed a motion to bifurcate the charges. That means he wanted the case to be tried separately because the charges from each represent two different alleged victims and a gap of a decade.
His argument centered on his belief the charges, when tried together, would “unfairly” prejudice the jury.
The state, through Ashland County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Metcalf, argued against bifurcation, saying the first count against Stroub requires prosecutors to prove sexual motivation.
The incidents from a decade ago do that, he said.
Eventually, Ashland County Common Pleas Court Judge Dave Stimpert sided with the defense. The two charges against Stroub will be tried separately, in back-to-back trials.
The first case will be tried March 11 to 13. The second case’s trial will be from March 18 to 20.