BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—Crawford County, OH – The Crawford County Common Pleas Court was active on Thursday as Judge Sean Leuthold presided over several bond hearings for defendants facing serious charges related to crimes against children.
Among those appearing before the court was 22-year-old Chase Bachelder, who faces multiple charges, including one count of rape, a first-degree felony, and 11 counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, each classified as second-degree felonies. Additional charges include corrupting another with drugs or alcohol, abduction, intimidation, and domestic violence. Judge Leuthold set Bachelder’s bond at $1 million, stipulating that if released, he must avoid contact with any victims or juveniles. Bachelder has retained attorneys Geoffrey Spall and Dominic Mango from Delaware.
Brandon Allen, 43, also faced the court, with three new charges added to his existing case. Allen is charged with four counts of pandering obscenities involving a minor or impaired person, all second-degree felonies. His bond was set at $100,000, and attorney Ben Thompson has been appointed to represent him. Similar to Bachelder, Allen is prohibited from contacting the victim(s).
Matthew See, 42, from Galion, was arraigned on one count of rape involving a victim under the age of 13 and one count of Gross Sexual Imposition. Judge Leuthold established See’s bond at $250,000, and he is also required to refrain from contacting the victim and any juveniles. He has retained attorney Marcus Ross for his defense.
46-year-old Gregory Blankenship from Bucyrus faces 20 counts of rape, with accusations indicating that ten of the charges occurred while the victim was under the age of ten and the other ten were between the ages of ten and thirteen. Allegations state that the abuse took place from September 2014 until 2018. Judge Leuthold set Blankenship’s bond at $1 million, with restrictions on contact with his victims, any children, and his wife, 39-year-old Sara Blankenship, who is charged with two counts of obstruction of Justice .Her bond was set at $125,000. Both Blankenships are represented by Mansfield attorney Ben Kitzler.
All defendants were arraigned via video from the Crawford County Jail. Crawford County Now will continue to monitor these developing cases as they unfold.
