Editor's Note:
This story was updated March 28 to reflect comments from Jordan Stroub's attorney, Joe Kearns.
ASHLAND — A former Ashland County maintenance worker admitted guilt Tuesday in a case involving sexual impropriety with minors.
Jordan Stroub, 31, appeared before Ashland County Common Pleas Judge Dave Stimpert to change his plea as part of a deal struck with the prosecutor’s office.
Before the agreement, Stroub faced two fourth-degree felony charges — menacing by stalking and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor — filed under secret indictment last June.
In exchange for a guilty plea, the Ashland County Prosecutor’s Office amended the unlawful sexual conduct with a minor charge to “attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.” The change downgraded the felony to the fifth-degree.
The menacing by stalking charge, a fourth-degree felony, remained unchanged.
Each count carries optional prison time — anywhere from six to 18 months. Assistant prosecutor Matt Metcalf asked Stimpert to impose prison time, to be served concurrently on both charges.
Stimpert will sentence Stroub on April 28.
The case was set to go to trial beginning earlier this month. And since the judge bifurcated the charges — meaning each would be tried separately — there would have been two back-to-back trials with separate juries.
The trials were continued. Stroub entered a motion to change his plea on March 17.
What happened?
Stroub started working for the county at its recycling center in 2017 and worked part-time for the county while in high school. He graduated from Mapleton High School and the Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center.
Ashland County commissioners hired Stroub as a maintenance worker in December 2020, according to his personnel file with the county.
Commissioners promoted him to assistant maintenance superintendent in June 2021. He received regular pay bumps and was once considered as next in line to be the county’s maintenance superintendent following Dennis Harris’ retirement in July 2024.
Commissioners learned about allegations against him before that could happen.
A man from Nova called the Ashland County Sheriff’s non-emergency line on March 15, saying Stroub had sent “nude images” to his teenage girl. (The incidents had occurred between June 1, 2023 and March 15, 2024, court documents show.)
Stroub — through his attorney, Joe Kearns — denies sending nude pictures to the girl.
“I am not sure where the person calling the sheriff got that, but I have gone through all the evidence and there were no nude pictures,” Kearns said.
The allegation led to Stroub’s dismissal from county employment two days later.
Further investigation led to a grand jury charging Stroub with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. The incidents occurred between Aug. 1, 2013 through Dec. 31, 2013. The girl, at the time, was 13; Stroub was 20.
Sex offender registration
Whether Stroub is sentenced to prison or community control, he will be required to register as a Tier 1 sex offender.
The state uses a three-tier system for registering sex offenders. Tier 1 is considered the lowest risk, tier 2 is moderate risk and the third is considered the highest risk.
Tier 1 sex offenders are required to register annually with the state for 15 years. There is a potential for early termination, depending on successful completion of probation or parole and treatment.
Watch the entire hearing below, which took place on March 18 over Zoom.