By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
A Conneaut man found guilty of sex offenses against a child is the subject of a statewide manhunt.
The Ohio attorney general’s office has put information about Gerald Eugene Butcher, 45, on its Web site. A message asks the public’s help in locating the man, who failed to show for his sentencing Friday in Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court.
In August, Butcher was found guilty of two counts of rape and two counts of kidnapping stemming from a 1995 incident that occurred in Ashtabula involving a 4-year-old child. The trial included testimony from the victim, now 18 years old.
Butcher is a white male, 5 feet-7 inches tall, 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department at 576-0055.
A warrant for Butcher’s arrest was issued after he failed for his afternoon sentencing. He also forfeited a $100,000 personal recognizance bond, officials said.
