ATHENS, OH – Lawrence R. Fetty, a 62-year-old resident of Athens, Ohio, has been indicted on serious charges by the Athens County Grand Jury. The indictment, issued during the September Term and announced on December 6, 2023, includes three counts of first-degree rape and two counts of third-degree gross sexual imposition.
Fetty appeared before Visiting Judge L. Alan Goldsberry for arraignment on the same day as the indictment. He entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. The State of Ohio has requested that Fetty be held without bond, and a hearing on this motion is scheduled for December 12, 2023. Until the formal hearing, Judge Goldsberry ordered that Fetty be held on no bond.
The charges against Fetty allege that he engaged in sexual conduct and/or contact with two separate victims over an extended period. The abuse reportedly began when one victim was approximately 10 years old and the other was around 7 years old.
The Athens County Prosecutor’s Office has urged anyone with additional information regarding Lawrence R. Fetty to contact Detective Beau Goodrich at the Athens County Sheriff’s Office at 740-593-6633. This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and judicial authorities to address and prosecute serious sexual offenses in the community.