The essentials
Cledith Arthur was charged in 1978 with raping his stepdaughter, then became a fugitive after missing court; outcome unreported.
Cledith Arthur was arrested and charged in July 1978 with raping his 12-year-old stepdaughter, Amy Acton. The charge is the earliest event in the criminal history described in the available reporting.
Arthur later failed to appear for a court appearance and became a fugitive. The reporting does not specify the date of the missed appearance, the court involved, or whether he was apprehended afterward.
The reporting does not indicate whether Arthur was tried or convicted, and it does not describe his whereabouts or status since the missed court date.
Each fact rests on a single report and has not been independently corroborated. The 1978 charge is an allegation, and the reporting does not establish its outcome.
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Arthur's Case Moves From 1978 Charge to Missed Court Date
The sequence begins in July 1978, when Cledith Arthur was arrested and charged. At a later point, he failed to appear for a scheduled court appearance and became a fugitive. The available facts do not give the interval between these events or any dates after the missed appearance, so the timeline has gaps in its later stages.
Decades-Old Charges Resurface Amid Ohio Governor's Race Coverage
Amy Acton is a Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, and recent coverage of her campaign has focused on her family history. The available facts about Arthur's 1978 charge and flight from court do not state how, if at all, they relate to that coverage, and they do not establish any link between Arthur and other people named in campaign reporting.