The former CEO of one of Ohio's largest residential treatment centers for children is facing federal child pornography and sexual abuse charges and is a suspect in the rape and kidnapping of a 14-year-old girl in Perry County, federal officials said Oct. 26.
Randall Mackendrick was arrested in West Virginia and appeared Monday in federal court in Columbus. He is represented by the federal public defender's office.
Mackendrick served as the CEO of Fox Run Center for Children and Adolescents in St. Clairsville. The facility treats boys ages 5 to 12 and girls ages 12 to 17.
In June, Mackendrick allegedly began communicating with North Ridgeville police officers who were posing as an underage girl. Police said he traveled to central Ohio in June for
a planned meeting at a Holiday Inn, but the meeting did not take place. In August, he drove three hours to a North Ridgeville park to meet the fictitious girl allegedly for sex. Police arrested him.
Belmont County sheriff's detectives searched Mackendrick's office, home and electronic devices and found more than 30 images and eight videos depicting child sexual abuse.
In September, a state court revoked Mackendrick's bond in the Lorain County case, and he was arrested again after authorities said evidence showed he had been texting a 17-year-old girl who lived at Fox Run while he was CEO.
In October, the FBI learned that Mackendrick is a suspect in a rape and kidnapping case in Perry County. Mackendrick’s DNA matches DNA recovered from the victim, federal authorities said. That investigation is ongoing.
Federal authorities charged Mackendrick with possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The Marshall Project - Cleveland'sinvestigation into Fox Run Center for Children and Adolescents found instances of staff-on-youth violence, medically unnecessary sedative injections and long, painful physical holds by staff. Parents, foster care agencies and juvenile courts send children there for treatment of complex behavioral and mental health needs.
Fox Run is licensed by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health through March 30, 2027. It has 100 beds.
Information from The Marshall Project is included in this report.
State government reporter Laura Bischoff can be reached at lbischoff@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Former exec of Ohio home for troubled youth now faces child porn charges
