Prosecutor: Henry case should go to grand jury this month

Defiance County Prosecutor Morris Murray said Monday he expects to present a case against former Van Buren head football coach and middle school teacher Chris Henry to a grand jury "no later than (the end of) this month." A woman filed a complaint against Henry with the Defiance County Sheriff's Office in January, alleging Henry sexually assaulted her when she was 16, in May 2011. A sheriff's report states that Henry, 33 at the time, engaged in sexual activities with the victim after providing her alcohol. The investigation was turned over to the Defiance County Prosecutor's office last month. Chief Deputy and Detective Cliff Vandemark confirmed the sheriff's office is requesting that Henry be charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual battery. Murray said in March prosecutors are awaiting some additional information and follow-up with the investigation, but he declined to provide specific information about what items are still outstanding. He again declined to provide any updates on the pending case Monday. Prosecutors have the jurisdiction to drop, add or change charges when presenting evidence to a grand jury. Henry has not been arrested or taken into custody by the Defiance County Sheriff's Office. The Van Buren Board of Education accepted Henry's resignation agreement on March 7 during a special meeting. Van Buren Superintendent Jason Inkrott first notified the community of an ongoing criminal investigation of one of the district's teachers on Feb. 20 in a district-wide email obtained by The Courier. Speaking of the then-unidentified teacher in the email, Inkrott said he and the administration "have no indication that (the investigation) is related to their job as a teacher or any extracurricular positions held in the district."