Van Wert man pleads not guilty to sexual conduct charges involving minors

A Van Wert man has pleaded not guilty to two felony charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

A Van Wert County grand jury indicted 33-year-old Frank Elbert Alexander Jr. on two third-degree felony counts.

Court documents allege the first offense occurred between March 15th and 16th and involved a 15-year-old. The second allegedly occurred between May 25th and 26th and involved a 14-year-old.

The indictment alleges Alexander was at least 10 years older than each minor.

Alexander appeared for arraignment October 15th in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court. Judge Martin Burchfield set bond at $50,000 cash or commercial surety and appointed a public defender to represent him.

Alexander was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victims or their families and must remain at least 1,000 feet away from them.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for November 4th at 8 a.m. The charges are allegations, and Alexander is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.