Man indicted on sex charges

HUBBARD -- A 41-year-old Mineral Ridge man was secretly indicted by a Trumbull County grand jury on nine counts including a charge of gross sexual imposition.
City police arrested Richard M. Davis, of Cherrywood Court, Mineral Ridge, on Tuesday on six charges of importuning, two counts of attempted gross sexual imposition and one count of gross sexual imposition.
Police say Davis, who works for the Ohio Turnpike Commission, is accused of having sexual contact with two 13-year-old girls he knows. The acts are alleged to have taken place at a house on Mackey Street in Hubbard, police said.
Davis, who was held overnight at the Trumbull County jail, is expected to be in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court later today.
Atty. John Fowler, who represents Davis, said he and his client were shocked by the indictment.
"We were cooperating and my client had intended to talk to police and give a statement," Fowler said. "I called police and we were to get together this week but then he was secretly indicted."
Fowler said his client maintains his innocence.