On 03/05/2014 just before 1:30 pm, a rural Hamilton couple was arrested by the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office. 29 year old Christopher and 32 year old April Wickerham were taken into custody by the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office in connection with an investigation into an alleged battery and neglect of a dependent child. The Sheriff’s Office launched the investigation in February of 2014 after receiving a report alleging that a 6 year old child of Christopher Wickerham and the step-child of April Wickerham was believed to have been mistreated while in the Wickerhams’ care. The incident allegedly occurred at the Wickerhams’ rural Otsego Township home in Southeastern Steuben County. Following the initial investigation by Sheriff’s detectives, arrest warrants were issued by the Steuben County Superior Court charging the Wickerhams each with one count of class D felony neglect of a dependent and one count of class D felony battery to a child. The Wickerhams were apprehended at their home near Hamilton and booked into the Steuben County Jail. They are both being held without bond pending an initial court appearance. Assisting the Sheriff’s Office in the investigation were the Steuben County Department of Child Services, the Williams County, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Williams County, Ohio Sheriff’s Office, and the Bryan, Ohio Police Department. Assisting the Sheriff’s Office in the apprehension were the Ashley Police Department and the Hamilton Police Department.
**Any criminal charge is merely and accusation. The Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.**
