*Breaking News* - Charges against Milton Union school custodian dismissed

Juvenile admitted to fabricating his allegations

Rape and other felony charges against a Milton Union schools custodian were dismissed Monday, Jan. 22, by Miami County prosecutors after the alleged child victim recanted his story.

Jerry North, 60, who had pleaded not guilty to all charges, was scheduled to go on trial beginning Tuesday, Jan. 23, in Judge Stacy Wall’s Common Pleas Court. The judge signed a dismissal of the indictment alleging three felony counts of rape, two felony counts of gross sexual imposition and one felony count of intimidation of a victim or witness. North was accused of sexual misconduct between 2018 and 2021 and was indicted by a county grand jury in 2023.

"We would like to thank the West Milton community for its overwhelming support and for standing by Jerry through this difficult ordeal. From the very beginning these allegations were based on complete lies,” wrote Tony Comunale of Dayton, North’s lawyer. “Now that the truth has come out, we would like to commend the Miami County Prosecutor's Office and staff for seeing to it that justice was done.”

Comunale said they also hoped the case would serve as a “cautionary tale” for those who investigate allegations such as those made against North. “Professionals should not be so easily fooled by baseless fabrications like those made in this case. Real people's lives can be ruined,” he said in a written statement.

Prosecuting Attorney Tony Kendell said Monday prosecutors and victim advocates were talking with the boy, now age 11, Sunday during final trial preparations. During that discussion, the boy said he had fabricated the claims.

“In my 30 years in the Miami County prosecuting attorneys’ office I have never witnessed a scenario such as this. I am thankful Prosecutor Matthew Joseph with assistance from other members of my staff was able to effectively discover the truth in this matter. No person should be put on trial for fabricated allegations,” Kendell said.

Bail of $300,000 cash/surety was posted for North in May and he was placed on electronically monitored house arrest while the case was pending. 

Milton Union schools District Brad Ritchey said Monday the district would have no comment on the dismissal of the criminal case. A civil lawsuit was filed against the district in the fall in Common Pleas Court by the parents of the child, claiming the schools were told about suspected harassment and abuse but failed to properly investigate, and report the allegations to law enforcement. The lawsuit later was moved to federal court in Dayton, where a stay on proceedings was approved, pending the outcome of the criminal case.