A Miami County corrections officer, Kenneth Welbaum, 37, was arrested on July 24 on an out-of-state warrant related to a child sex offense.
Court documents filed in Miami County Municipal Court reveal that Welbaum is charged with a “computer-solicit child-sex offense” in Virginia. The Albemarle County Police Department (ACPD) in Virginia confirmed that Welbaum faces two counts of using a communication device to facilitate child-related offenses. These charges stem from an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) operation by ACPD.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) was requested by ACPD and the Miami County Prosecutor’s Office to assist in the investigation. BCI then contacted the Miami County Sheriff’s Office, leading to Welbaum’s arrest on the same day.
The alleged offenses occurred while Welbaum was off-duty, according to Miami County Sheriff Dave Duchak. Welbaum has been placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of the case.
Welbaum signed a waiver of extradition, agreeing to return to Virginia with the necessary legal papers. He is currently listed as an inmate in the Shelby County Jail.