MiddletownJournal.com

MIDDLETOWN — Middletown police have arrested a man indicted Wednesday on 25 felony sex charges involving a minor on a new charge of intimidation, according to Middletown Juvenile Detective Janice Jones.

Stephen B. Rader, 39, of 209 Bavarian Drive, Apt. 4, faces three counts of rape and 22 counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor. He allegedly raped three child victims, two boys and one girl, in addition to allegedly possessing child pornography.

Jones said she issued a warrant for his arrest late Wednesday, Oct. 1, for intimidating a witness in connection with the case. The detective said she received three reports alleging Rader made threats before and after the grand jury convened to hear the case.

"I talked to one of the victim's family who will be able to testify, " Jones said. She added the allegation is Rader told the victims, "you are all going to die."

According to court records, Rader was free on $45,000 bond before his arrest on Wednesday. A summons was issued early Wednesday for him to appear with his attorney Jonathan Fox for arraignment Oct. 8 before Butler County Judge Andrew Nastoff.

Rader is in the Middletown Jail after being arrested early this morning at a trucking company on Cincinnati-Dayton Road where he was working, according to Jones. Intimidation is a third-degree felony.

Police seized DVDs, videotapes and a computer during the search of his Bavarian Drive apartment. Middletown police officers described the child pornography seized from Rader's residence shortly after his Aug. 13 arrest as "some of the worst" they have ever seen. =