RAPE CHARGE Cops accuse man of sex with boy, 12

Police say at least three other boys had sex with the Hubbard man.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- A 46-year-old man whom police say they've been watching for five years has been charged with having sex with a 12-year-old Hubbard boy.
John Hudach of Shadow Run Apartments, off East Liberty Street, was arrested this morning in his parking lot and charged with rape and disseminating material harmful to juveniles.
Police were searching his apartment today after obtaining a search warrant from Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. Hudach was to be arraigned today in Girard Municipal Court.
More charges planned
City police Detective Robert Altier said more charges will be filed because he knows of at least three other 12-year-old boys from Hubbard who have acknowledged having sex with Hudach.
Two of the four boys are undergoing counseling, the detective explained.
"Up until now, we couldn't get anything on him," Altier said.
Altier explained that he and Detective Mike Begeot of the Hubbard Township Police Department have been watching Hudach. In 2000, Hudach was charged with importuning, but the boys at the time wouldn't acknowledge they were involved in anything of a sexual nature with him, Altier said.
On April 3, 2000, Hudach pleaded guilty in Girard Municipal Court to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct. He was fined $225 and placed on probation for one year.
Monitoring activity
Altier said that he and Begeot have been working with Simco Management Corp., which owns the apartment complex in which Hudach lives, to monitor his apartment.
The apartment manager called police Oct. 20 when he saw two boys go into Hudach's apartment, No. 114. When they emerged about a half-hour later, Altier and Begeot picked up the boys for questioning.
The two 12-year-olds acknowledged they had sexual activity with Hudach, Altier explained.
This led to the questioning of two other 12-year-old boys, who also said Hudach paid them for sexual favors with cigarettes.
Besides rape, Hudach is charged with showing the boys adult pornographic videos.
"The kids have been as cooperative as hell," Altier commented, noting that two of the boys had been in Hudach's apartment six times.
Altier pointed out that the boys were consistent in their statements to police during multiple interviews.
Hudach has a one-room apartment with a separate bathroom, Altier noted, and sometimes a boy watched the activity of another with Hudach.
Altier said Hudach would meet the boys at the apartment complex clubhouse as they were walking home from school.
"We feel there are other victims out there," the detective speculated. "There has to be more."
The boys know Hudach only as John.
Altier is asking parents to talk with their sons to determine if they were in his apartment.
If so, they are asked to call police, (330) 534-8153.
yovich@vindy.com