Sheriff Jeffrey Paden announced that detectives from the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division have charged Thomas Carte III, age 19, of Byesville, Ohio, with two counts of rape, both felonies of the first degree, and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a felony of the fourth degree. These charges stem from deputies responding to a residence inside the Village of Byesville early Thursday morning, May 29th, shortly after 4:30 a.m. in reference to a call that a juvenile female at the residence had been sexually assaulted. Deputies responded and made contact with both the victim and the suspect at the residence. They worked in collaboration with the Haven of Hope to assist the victim, while detectives were summoned to further investigate the claims.
Detectives were not only able to substantiate the claims made by the victim but also identified additional victims of Carte, all of whom are juvenile females. Detectives continued to work on the multiple cases that involved these victims and continued to substantiate the claims of the sexual assaults allegedly perpetrated by Carte.
Detectives were able to file charges in the current cases, but continue to work with other possible victims of Carte. The Circumstances surrounding the incidents remain under investigation.
Further charges are expected when this case is presented to a Guernsey County Grand Jury. Sheriff Paden praised the work of his deputies and detectives in ensuring that swift justice was served in this case.
Carte appeared today in the Cambridge Municipal Court, and a bond was set at $100,000, with no 10% allowed.
