Kent Man Charged with Drugging, Raping Child
Robert A. Ashworth arrested over holiday weekend
A Kent man is in jail on a $250,000 bond after being charged with drugging and raping a 13-year-old child.
Kent Police arrested Robert A. Ashworth, 33, of 121 W. Hall St. at his home Monday afternoon on a felony rape charge.
Ashworth was charged with raping a 13-year-old sometime the day prior on Sunday. The charge is a first-degree felony.
He was charged with substantially impairing the victim's judgment "by administering any drug, intoxicant or controlled substance to the victim surreptitiously or by force, threat of force or deception," according to the Kent Police criminal complaint.
Ashworth is being held in the Portage County jail on a $250,000 bond.
Portage County Municipal Court Judge Barb Oswick ordered that if Ashworth can pay his bond he is not to be released from jail unless he is placed on a GPS monitoring system, according to the court case docket.
He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Oswick Friday morning.
Teresa K.
10:13 am on Friday, June 1, 2012
I'm getting old and I'm a little tired of all the idiots hurting the young ones. My new policy is anyone who is found guilt of molesting, raping, beating, kidnapping, murdering, or taking the innoncence of a child must be eliminated from society. No more nice guy. I don't care about the perps awful childhood or their hard lives. If this guy is found guilty, no prison for him- we aren't going to pay to house him, feed him, or pay for his medical bills for the rest of his life. He needs taken out of society.
Christopher L. Hawkins Jr.
2:32 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
I Absolutely agree with Teresa, And, I'll be more than happy to volunteer to put this scumbag down on my next trip back home to Kent (which will be for the Heritage Festival.) I'm sick and tired of these scumbags too.
david ashworth
3:24 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
its funny how people make you guilty before they prove your guilty. Its like you beleave every thing you read. if someone say u did something should we take you out back an put you down. before your side is told.why dont people wait till it all cames out before passing judgement.
Matt Fredmonsky
3:27 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
@david ashworth is correct. The charges do not indicate a conviction, and let's remember in the U.S. a man is innocent until proven guilty.
Teresa K.
6:55 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
@david: so true... that is why I included the word "IF". re: " If this guy is found guilty" the "if" always needs proven without a shadow of a doubt.
re: "why dont people wait till it all cames out before passing judgement." why doesnt the media wait to report it UNTIL someone has been convicted? There is even a picture of him. I think that should be illegal myself... but that's me.
Troy McClure
7:35 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
"why doesnt the media wait to report it UNTIL someone has been convicted? There is even a picture of him. I think that should be illegal myself... but that's me."
Uhh...that's why the media uses words like "charged" and "accused". Not "convicted" or "guilty of" before he's had his day in court. Plus, this is all public record anyway.
Christopher L. Hawkins Jr.
4:15 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
Oh, I'm all for Due Process, I spent 23 years defending every American's right to Due Process. If he's innocent, then he is innocent, but if that process has determined guilt, I have no patience for dragging it out and coddling perpetrators of heinous crimes such as this. Seeing the nature of the charges in this case, I am Very curious to see what the explanation will be.
david ashworth
4:34 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
all im trying to say is the whole story aint been printed in the news yet . there is always to sides to a story. lets here it all before passing jugdement. there are people arrest more then we know for stuff then it goto court an find out that the one arrest was not guilty at all. all it take in a case like this is to say it happen. there is more to all of this that will come out . it just takes time with the way the courts work. an why the look into every thing.. so far every body as here one side...all im asking is wait for the whole thing comes out before u hang him...
Teresa K.
7:03 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
@david:
We have a 33 yr. old and a 13 yr. old. The law has to protect the child first.
We understand what you're saying about the whole story. I would love to read that this story was all fabricated and didnt happen. Maybe it's all a big misunderstanding.
Tony Iacano
1:15 am on Sunday, June 3, 2012
Rob maybe a lot of things. But a rapist of children . I want more information. i know that sounds like i don't. believe this man did the crime. But the whole thing sounds two one sided to me. I know this man. Wrong place. Wrong time. some of this maybe true also. You pick your friends not your family. Knowledge says drinking with children around your putting them and yourself in harms way. A holiday weekend everyone wants to unwind. Something from this story is missing. Lets all put are thoughts on hold for the truth.
Teresa K.
12:13 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
I'm sure there is a lot missing from this story. When a child is involved, it is best to err on the side of caution. Rape, if reported soon enough, is a detectable crime. It can be proven or UN-proven too. The above article says nothing about drinking with children around. Tony, I don't know either party in this case. But, if you're standing up for the man's character - I'm good with that. : )
Tony Iacano
7:07 pm on Sunday, June 3, 2012
Thanks Teresa. i have spent many hours with this person. i do know him. its way out there to believe that he would do something as bad as this. And if he did Im going to be pretty upset with him.But as i said we will wait and see. i would say if their where were other people there speak out tell the truth. this man could spend 16-17 years behind bars. For something he may have not done. you see all the time.