John D. Freels - Child Molester

A 52-year-old Brookville man accused of raping three Dayton girls last winter remained in a Montgomery County jail on Friday, Feb. 29, on $1 million bond.

John D. Freels is accused of raping the girls, ages 4 to 9 years old, at his apartment at 621 Hay Ave. in Brookville a total of five times from September 2007 to December 2007.

"Basically what he did was he befriended the families," said Detective Don Duncan of the Brookville Police Department.

After befriending the families, Freels, a construction worker on jobs around Ohio and in adjoining states, would convince the parents to let him baby-sit the children or treat them to meals, Duncan said.

The alleged victims come from two families, Duncan said, but police are investigating whether there were other victims.

Freels is charged with five counts of rape of a child under 10. If convicted, he faces 10 years to life in prison on each charge.

He was arrested Wednesday, Feb. 27, after authorities interviewed the alleged victims at the CareHouse facility in Dayton.

Bond was set during a hearing Thursday, Feb. 28, in Montgomery County District Court in New Lebanon.

The case was referred to the Montgomery County Public Defender's Office and scheduled for presentation Thursday to a grand jury.

Police ask anyone with information to call (937) 833-2001.