Wakeman man indicted for child sex crimes

NORWALK — A Wakeman man was indicted for the second time last month on multiple felony charges for allegedly sexually assaulting multiple children. Matthew E. Gross, 51, third block Cooper St., was indicted by a Huron County grand jury in May on the following charges: • Six counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, each a third-degree felony • Six counts of gross sexual imposition, both third and fourth-degree felonies • Three counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, each a fifth-degree felony In his first indictment from April, he was charged with: • Six counts of compelling prostitution, each a third-degree felony • Five counts of gross sexual imposition, each a fourth-degree felony • Five counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person, each a fourth-degree felony • Five counts of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, each a fifth-degree felony • Five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, both third and fourth-degree felonies • Four counts of rape, each a first-degree felony • Two counts of endangering children, each a second-degree felony • One count of attempt to commit an offense, each a second-degree felony According to one of Gross's indictments, the alleged crimes took place as far back as May 2004, when Gross allegedly had sexual contact with someone who was less than 13 years old at the time of the incident. The most recent incident allegedly occurred on or about June 25, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2024, when Gross engaged in "sexual conduct" with another child "by force or threat of force." As of Tuesday afternoon, Gross remains in the Huron County Jail on a $1.1 million bond. He has an upcoming court hearing scheduled for 1 p.m. on July 7, according to court records.