Sex offender charged with abusing girl, 6

GIBSONBURG - A registered sex offender faces felony sexual abuse charges after an alleged incident involving a 6-year-old girl in Gibsonburg.

Larry E. Nance, 27, of Gibsonburg, admitted to Sandusky County Sheriff Detective Capt. Sean O'Connell that he touched a 6-year-old girl inappropriately during an encounter Feb. 5 in a Gibsonburg home. Nance was placed under arrest the day of the incident and charged with gross sexual imposition, third-degree felony.

According to a sheriff's report, the sheriff's office began investigating the alleged incident involving Nance and the 6-year-old girl after receiving a complaint from the girl's father in Fremont.

"He (Nance) admitted to doing it and indicated he needed help. We spoke to the 6-year-old and she was believable. Both stories were similar," O'Connell said.

Nance told O'Connell he was a registered sex offender stemming from a conviction of similar charges in 2009 in Wyandot County when he pleaded guilty to a lesser felony charge of gross sexual imposition involving a 3-year-old.

"He served 11 months in prison. It will be up to a grand jury if they want to pursue rape charged with an indictment. It is an F-3 (third-degree felony) because the victim was under the age of 12," O'Connell said.

Nance's bond was set at $20,000 and he is scheduled to appear in Sandusky County Common Pleas Court at 2:15 p.m. Feb. 17 for a preliminary hearing.

cshoup@gannett.com

419-334-1035

Twitter: CraigShoupNH