ASHLAND — An 18-year-old Howard man has been bound over to the Ashland County Common Pleas Court for prosecution as an adult on allegations of rape and gross sexual imposition.
Ashland County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Tunnell announced Thursday that the Ashland County Juvenile Court has ordered Dominic Negron, 18, of Howard, Ohio, bound over to the court’s General Division.
The juvenile complaint alleges one count of rape, a first-degree felony if committed by an adult, and one count of gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony if committed by an adult.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Laura Stanley represented the State in the bindover proceedings.
“I commend Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Laura Stanley for her hard work and dedication in bringing this matter through the bindover process,” Tunnell said. “I also want to recognize the victim and her family for their courage in standing up and their patience as this case has moved forward.
“We remain committed to supporting them and pursuing justice as the case proceeds in adult court.”
The identity of the alleged victim is being withheld to protect her privacy.
According to the release, the alleged offenses occurred on Oct. 2, 2025, when Negron was 17. Following an amenability hearing on Sept. 24, Judge Karen DeSanto Kellogg issued a judgment entry Oct. 21 finding that Negron was not amenable to care or rehabilitation within the juvenile system and that the safety of the community may require adult sanctions.
“The court concluded that the factors favoring transfer outweighed those against transfer, emphasizing its concern that insufficient time remained to rehabilitate Negron within the juvenile system while reasonably assuring public safety,” the release said.
Negron, through counsel, previously stipulated that probable cause existed to believe he committed the alleged acts. That stipulation and the bindover decision do not constitute a finding of guilt.
The court ordered the Ashland County Sheriff to transport Negron from the Erie County Juvenile Detention Center to the Ashland County Jail, the release said.
A bond hearing is scheduled for Oct. 26 at 3:30 p.m. The Ashland County Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion requesting that Negron be held without bond.
Negron is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
