Elyria residents charged with child sexual assault

Two Elyria residents are facing multiple felony sexual assault charges in Lorain County Common Pleas Court, with the alleged victims being children. Roger Mincey, 36, and Ashley Lenhart, 30, both of Fifth Street, were indicted by a grand jury last month on charges they raped and molested children, and also that Mincey created a recording of one of the alleged assaults. The charges were filed based on an Elyria Police Department investigation. Mincey faces 12 felony charges including rape, complicity to rape, pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, endangering children, gross sexual imposition and related counts, along with a misdemeanor endangering children charge. Lenhart is charged with rape, complicity to rape, sexual battery, gross sexual imposition, complicity to gross sexual imposition and both felony and misdemeanor counts of endangering children. Lenhart and Mincey pleaded not guilty and are free on bond on the condition they have no contact with the alleged victims, according to court records. Their cases are assigned to Judge John Miraldi's court. The charges involve allegations the duo assaulted children and recorded images of a pornographic nature involving a minor, according to the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office. Mincey's attorney, Michael Stepanik, said Thursday he is still working his way through the process of evidence discovery. He said there was an allegation that his client committed sexual assault and may have taken digital images of the alleged crimes. Stepanik said Mincey surrendered electronic devices after Elyria police obtained a search warrant, but there was no evidence of the alleged crimes on those devices. He said it was too early to comment any further on the allegations. Lenhart's attorney, J. Anthony Rich, said it was too early for him to comment on the case after he was reached by phone Thursday. Mincey also is facing felony charges of improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle and misdemeanor DUI charges in a separate case filed in October. He pleaded not guilty in that case and was freed after posting bond in November. That case is assigned to Judge Chris Cook's courtroom. Mincey also has prior arrests for assault and domestic violence, according to Lorain County Jail records. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. Follow him at @daveobrienCT on Twitter.