CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A Chillicothe man has been charged with two counts of criminal child enticement after allegedly approaching children near an apartment complex and asking if they wanted to race, according to a Ross County Sheriff’s Office report.
Matthew Allen Lambert was arrested on March 10 following a suspicious person complaint on Western Avenue. He was arraigned March 11 in Chillicothe Municipal Court, where he entered a not guilty plea, according to court records.
Incident near apartment complex
Ross County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Western Avenue around 5:44 p.m. March 10 for a suspicious person complaint, according to the report.
Deputies made contact with Lambert, who, the report said, stated he was riding his bike through the apartment complex when children in the area began to chase him because they liked his bike. Lambert, according to the report, said he didn’t speak to any children and just kept riding.
A mother also reported that her daughter was approached by Lambert, allegedly asking if the child wanted to race.
Deputies said in their report that the mother felt it was concerning that Lambert would have asked her daughter to race. She reported that she and another parent were advised that the maintenance man had intervened and told Lambert to leave the property.
A 13-year-old stated he was in the parking lot when Lambert asked him if he wanted to race, according to the report. The 13-year-old stated Lambert was a stranger, and he was not comfortable going with him.
Charges filed
Due to witness statements, Lambert was charged with two counts of criminal child enticement, according to the report.
Criminal child enticement is defined under Ohio law as knowingly soliciting, coaxing, enticing, or luring any child under 14 years of age to accompany the person in any manner, including entering into any vehicle or onto any vessel, according to Ohio Revised Code 2905.05.
Lambert was taken into custody and transported to the Ross County Jail.
Court proceedings
Lambert was arraigned March 11 in Chillicothe Municipal Court before entering a not guilty plea, according to court records. Bond was continued as posted, with conditions including no contact with and stay away from the alleged victims.
Lambert’s attorney filed discovery demands and a jury demand on March 19. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for April 9 at 1 p.m.
Lambert is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.