A Heath couple has been indicted on rape and child exploitation charges, accused of committing some of the offenses at a YMCA in Licking County, according to a statement from the Buckeye Valley YMCA's Newark branch.
Brianna Nethers, 23, and John Nethers, 43, were indicted Aug. 19 on a combined 69 charges. Prosecutors allege that the crimes happened from March 2021 to June 2026, the month they were arrested and charged.
In an emailed press release, the Buckeye Valley YMCA said it learned that at least two of the alleged offenses occurred at its Newark facility in 2024. The Nethers were members of the YMCA "for a short time," according to the statement. The organization said it will continue cooperating with law enforcement and prosecutors as the case
moves forward.
"The indictments suggest that the couple's deeply disturbing alleged crimes were widespread across Licking County," the Buckeye Valley YMCA said. "We're grateful to law enforcement for their work to protect our community and sure these serious allegations are answered in court."
The Buckeye Valley YMCA said their members are screened nightly against the National Sex Offender Registry, and they maintain accreditation through Praesidium, an organization geared toward preventing sexual abuse. The YMCA also regularly reviews its "policies and procedures to identify opportunities for improvement."
"As we always do, we will continue evaluating our safeguards and strengthening them whenever possible," the Buckeye Valley YMCA said.
Sex abuse charges date back to allegations from 2021, indictment says
The couple faces a combined 69 charges in connection with sex abuse against minors from March 2021 to June 2026, according to the indictment. The victims are only identified by their initials.
Brianna Nethers faces a total of 29 charges, including five counts of rape, nine counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor; eight counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material; two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor; two counts of voyeurism; one count of possessing criminal tools; one counts of sexual conduct with an animal; and one count of cruelty to animals.
John Nethers faces a total of 38 charges, including five counts of rape, eight counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, eight counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance; two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor; two counts of voyeurism, 10 counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material with a possession/viewing specification; one count of possessing criminal tools; and two counts of animal related misdemeanors.
Several of the charges involve minors listed as victims, according to the indictment. The youngest victim is 3 years old, and the oldest victim, an adult, is 19, according to the indictment.
Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Heath couple accused of sex crimes allegedly committed at Newark YMCA
