Youth counselor charged with 21 counts of child abuse and rape

WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WXIX) – A West Chester man who worked as a youth counselor and social worker is accused of sexually abusing and grooming several boys for nearly 20 years.

In a 21-count indictment, 54-year-old Michael Lesko is charged with seven counts of rape, six counts of sexual assault and eight counts of sexual abuse of minors.

His indictment states that the alleged crimes dated back to April 2008.

According to a community spokeswoman, Lesko befriended and cared for the victims while also working as a personal mentor and running a private counseling service from his home on Cox Road.

Because of the grooming activities, the age of the victims and the position of trust Lesko held, it is possible that there are additional victims who have not yet been identified, she said.

His indictment also reveals that there were also reports of sexual abuse in Montgomery and Warren counties.

Lesko was formerly manager of social services at UC Health but is no longer employed there, a UC spokesman said.

According to his LinkedIn account, he served as head of social services from November 2020 to April 2024.

Lesko was arrested in Georgia on Wednesday after police tracked him down using a flock camera system, according to West Chester Police Detective Dave Tivin.

“We were able to get his car,” Tivin said. “We saw it snapping on the flock cameras in Georgia. We were able to determine his parents lived in Georgia. We worked with the (US) Marshals Office (and) the Harris County Sheriff's Office to go there and take him into custody.”

Lesko's case has been assigned to Butler County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Oster Jr.

FOX19 NOW has contacted his attorney for comment.

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