ASHLAND — April 14 is the next court appearance scheduled for an Ashland man charged with the kidnapping and rape of a 12-year-old girl.
That 1:30 p.m. proceeding via Zoom will take place with Ashland County Magistrate Paul Lange presiding over the case.
Ashland County Common Pleas Court Judge David Stimpert denied bail to 28-year-old Chad Michael Murphy, who was arrested on two felony charges on March 19. Ashland police arrested Murphy after he allegedly kidnapped and engaged in sexual conduct with the child, according to the initial complaint.
March 23 bond hearing
Murphy pleaded not guilty to the charges during a March 23 bond setting and initial appearance hearing.
During the hearing, the state, represented by Ashland County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Metcalf, requested Murphy either be held without bond or on a $1 million cash bond.
Metcalf prefaced his request by saying: “This not something the state normally does.”
Metcalf also told Lange, Murphy allegedly travelled to Marion County to abduct the victim from her home after meeting her online on March 19.
The victim’s parents immediately reported her as a runaway juvenile, and when Murphy allegedly brought the victim back to her home, a parent caught the license plate number on the vehicle, Metcalf said.
Metcalf also said “they” went to speak with Murphy after the incident, and “they” claim he admitted to sexually assaulting the victim, among other things. It is unclear if Metcalf referred to the parents as “they” or someone else.
Metcalf then told Lange that Murphy would face a life sentence if he is convicted on the charges.
March 24 evidentiary hearing
The state’s request for no bond required an evidentiary hearing on March 24, which included testimony from Ashland Police Division Det. Kara Pearce. She is trained to forensically interview children involved in sex-related cases.
Pearce has been involved in investigating the case, including writing a search warrant for Murphy’s home and devices. Pearce interviewed Murphy and the child and searched the accused’s devices for conversations between Murphy and the victim.
After the March 24 hearing, Stimpert decided to deny Murphy’s bail on the grounds that “proof is evident or the presumption great” that Murphy committed the offenses charged, the risk of self harm, circumstance of the offenses and the weight of the evidence, according to court records.
Stimpert cited specific evidence to deny bail in the judgement entry, many of which came from Pearce’s statements, including:
- Murphy admitted to a “longstanding pornography addiction and to possessing or viewing extreme pornography, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM).”
- At least two CSAM videos and additional sexualized images involving minors were located on his phone. Forensic review also found CSAM involving toddlers, bestiality-related material and memes sexualizing infants.
- The sexual encounter required planning that included online communication, arranging a late-night meeting, transporting the child out of the home, and committing sexual acts at Murphy’s residence.
- Murphy “described himself using the term ‘pervert’ during his interview.”
“These characteristics are consistent with compulsive sexual behavior, attraction to minors, and escalating conduct,” Stimpert wrote in the judgement entry.
Stimpert also wrote that Murphy displayed suicidal ideation while in jail, requiring confinement in a suicide-watch cell.
Murphy has no previous criminal history.
