Salem couple indicted for rape of children
LISBON — A man and a woman from the same North Ellsworth Avenue, Salem address were each taken into custody Wednesday on multiple counts of rape, gross sexual imposition and sexual battery against two children over multiple years.
Mark E. Knight, 57, is facing 15 counts while Jan M. McHenry, 40, is facing 12 counts.
Both remain in the Columbiana County Jail under bonds of $100,000 cash or surety. They’re both scheduled to face arraignment at 1 p.m. April 2 in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.
Both Knight and McHenry are each charged with three counts of third-degree felony gross sexual imposition for allegedly having sexual contact with a child from Nov. 16, 2014 through Nov. 15, 2017 beginning when the child was 7 years old.
They’re each charged with three counts of rape, a first-degree felony, for allegedly having sexual conduct with that same child from Nov. 16, 2017 through Nov. 15, 2020 beginning when the child was 10 years old.
Both are charged with six counts each of sexual battery, a third-degree felony, for allegedly having sexual conduct with that same child from Nov. 16, 2020 through Nov. 15, 2023 beginning at age 13 and with a different child from April 10, 2019 through Nov. 25, 2025 beginning when that child was 10 years old.
Knight is facing an additional three counts of gross sexual imposition for allegedly having sexual contact with the first child from Nov. 16, 2017 through Nov. 15, 2020.
The secret indictments were issued by the county grand jury last week.
Also served with secret indictments were:
— Bailey S. Riddle, 24, Firestone Avenue, Columbiana, two counts of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly possessing methamphetamine and MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy) on Sept. 22, 2025.
— John R. Hood, 52, Sandusky, two counts of nonsupport of dependents, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly failing to pay child support for two children from May 10, 2020 to May 8, 2022.


