Court Records Confirm: Man Struck by Butler Mayor Wesley Dingus Was a Convicted Tier III Sex Offender
BUTLER, OH – Following repeated questions from the community about the background of the man injured in the July 11 incident involving Butler Mayor Wesley Dingus, court records confirm that Anthony A. Ward, the individual struck by Dingus’ vehicle while fleeing law enforcement, is a convicted Tier III sex offender.
According to Knox County Common Pleas Court records, Ward was originally indicted in 2020 on charges of first-degree felony rape and fourth-degree felony gross sexual imposition. The charges stemmed from an incident on July 28, 2020, involving a 15-year-old victim. Prosecutors alleged that Ward used force or the threat of force to engage in sexual conduct with the minor.
On January 12, 2021, Ward entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of sexual battery, a third-degree felony, as part of a plea agreement. In February 2021, the court sentenced him to a 54-month prison term. He was also classified as a Tier III sex offender/child victim offender, the most serious classification under Ohio law, which requires lifetime registration, in-person verification every 90 days, and community notification.
Ward was placed under post-release control following his prison term and was under the supervision of the Ohio Adult Parole Authority at the time of the Butler incident. According to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Ward is currently listed as a Violator at Large for failing to comply with the conditions of his supervision and should be considered dangerous. Law enforcement officials have warned that the public should not attempt to apprehend him and should contact authorities immediately if he is spotted.
The July 11 incident, in which Ward was struck twice by a vehicle driven by Mayor Wesley Dingus while fleeing a Butler police officer, remains under investigation by the Bellville Police Department. Dingus has claimed he struck Ward accidentally as the fugitive ran into his vehicle’s path, while Bellville Police Chief Jon Fletcher has confirmed that the mayor was actively pursuing Ward during the encounter.
Ward sustained injuries and was taken into custody following the collision. Details about his current legal status, including whether additional charges will be filed in connection to the July 11 events, have not yet been released.
Authorities continue to investigate both the incident involving Mayor Dingus and Ward’s parole violations. Bellville Police have stated that further updates will be provided as the case develops.
