Guardsman Charged with Raping 4 Girls in His Care

An Ohio National Guardsman accused of sexually abusing three adopted daughters and his stepdaughter

MARYSVILLE, Ohio (Mike McCarthy/AP) -- Jury selection began Monday for the trial of an Ohio National Guardsman accused of sexually abusing four children in his care.

A Union County grand jury indicted Jean Pauk Kruse, 42, of Marysville on 35 counts, including rape, sexual battery, and gross sexual imposition.

He has pleaded not guilty, and his attorney has declined to comment.

Kruse is accused of abusing girls who were under 13 years old.

The allegations of abuse extend from incidents dated between October 2006 to August 2012.

Prosecutors also alleged he and his wife abruptly sent a child out of state in July 2012 and threatened other children in the family with a similar fate to keep them from talking about what they knew.

The Guardsman's wife, Emily Kruse, has been charged in a separate case with intimidation, obstructing justice and evidence tampering and initially pleaded not guilty. Her attorney has declined to comment.

A prosecutor previously said the children no longer lived with the Guardsman. Well I hope not!