Child sex therapist faces child sex and rape charges Monday

The video above is from previous reporting

WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WXIX) – A West Chester therapist charged in a 21-count indictment with raping boys for years will return to court Monday.

Michael Lesko, 33, is expected to appear for a plea or trial before Judge Michael Oster Jr. at 9:30 a.m. of Butler County Common Pleas Court.

Lesko’s indictment includes seven counts of rape, six counts of gross sexual imposition and eight counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

The crimes he is accused of dating back to April 2008, court records show.

Lesko befriended and sexually groomed the victims while also working as a personal mentor and owning a private counseling service from his home on Cox Road, a city spokeswoman said.

Due to the grooming activities, the ages of the victims and the trusted positions Lesko held, it is possible there are other victims who have not been identified, she told FOX19 NOW last month.

Sexual abuse was also reported in Montgomery and Warren counties, according to his complaint.

Lesko was previously a social services manager at UC Health but is no longer employed there, a UC spokesperson said.

His LinkedIn account states that he was social services manager from November 2020 to April 2024.

Lesko was arrested in Georgia last month and extradited to Butler County.

He has since been held in the Butler County Jail on $500,000 bond.

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