Bazetta resident faces sex charges
By DARCIE LORENO Tribune ChronicleBAZETTA - A Bazetta man and music teacher has been indicted on more than 50 counts of sexual assault.
According to police, Joel Ferren, 63, told two female students at his Bedford music shop that he was French royalty and would groom them with gifts and promises to take them to France, where he said it was normal for young women to live with older men.
"I've dealt with cases like this where (men) have sex with minors but nothing to the extent of Ferren's case, definitely not," said Bedford Detective Shawn Klubnik. "Our feeling is there are probably more victims out there if you looked at how he groomed these young ladies."
Ferren, 2992 Ivy Hill Circle, operates Maison de Vielle Fine Violins, a violin supply shop, where he also provided lessons. Klubnik said Ferren has owned the shop at least 15 years.
Bedford is about an hour northwest of Bazetta.
In November 2008, Ferren was indicted in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court with seven counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and one count of carrying a concealed weapon after a 14-year-old girl said they engaged in sexual activity from September 2007 to March 2008 at the studio.
He was reindicted Friday on those charges and charged additionally with 53 counts of sexual battery regarding a now 26-year-old female who lives in Chicago. According to Ryan Miday, a spokesman for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office, the woman said the activity began in 1995 when she was 13.
According to officials, she was taking lessons from Ferren at his studio, and after about one year he began to seduce her by giving her gifts and professing his love to her. In 1996, she said he proposed to her, gave her a ring and claimed to
have married her. Soon after, said officials, he engaged in sexual activity with her until she was 18.
Officials claim Ferren "seduced" the girl by grooming her with gifts of jewelry, books and perfume, along with stories about him being in the French conservatory. He also told her stories of being the youngest cellist to play in an orchestra and to receive his master's degree at 15, officials said. He claimed he was French royalty, a baron and taught violin in France, where he said he had a chateau, officials said.
Ferren groomed his other victim with similar gifts and stories, police said. When he was arrested in 2008, police found a loaded pistol in his pocket and Viagra in his studio.
Klubnik said in that case, the girl told her cousin about the activity, and the cousin then told her parents.
The 26-year-old woman went to police earlier this year after reading about Ferren's other alleged victim on the Internet, said police.
Ferren will be arraigned Oct. 2. He is in Cuyahoga County Jail.
Klubnik said if anyone has information on Ferren, they are asked to call him at 440-232-3408.
"It's good for victims to get it out and get help, if need be," he said.
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arsenic6oldlace
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09-23-09 10:03 PM
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But, I was only 16.
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arsenic6oldlace
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09-23-09 10:02 PM
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As for the 26 year old woman. For God sakes she was 13 years old when this started. Children usually don't have the emotional capability to handle something so extreme. Many adults don't, for that matter. I told my mother about this rape when I was 25, because I saw an episode on America's Most Wanted concerning two serial rapists with a strong resemblance to the two men that had raped me. Maybe if I had reported this rape others would have been saved.
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arsenic6oldlace
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09-23-09 9:53 PM
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Time to stop blaming the victim. Easy to say that a parent would notice changes in their child if they were sexually molested/assaulted. Especially with a teenager, because they are masters at hiding what they really feel. I was raped at gunpoint when I was sixteen. I never told my mother. In my mind, I pretended like nothing had happened, because I believed that this was my fault. I told her when I was 25. I am now 44 and still fell guilt.
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Billdog
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09-23-09 3:00 PM
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I hope Joel gets a really friendly celly.
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DrSpankit
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09-23-09 7:25 AM
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Hey Spooner;I remember years of PE teachers from Newton Falls...Knew every priest from town as well for over 40 years...NEVER heard a word from a classmate,NF alumnist or anyone involved inside the community,talking about perverted actions by the teachers and or clergy... Whay do you know S Pooner?
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Karrilyn
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09-23-09 6:44 AM
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The only one to blame here is the pedophile who abused these kids. He knew right from wrong and chose to commit a crime, I hope all those he touched find the courage to come forward so that this man gets what he fully deserves.
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warrenite4now
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09-23-09 12:45 AM
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There go the self righteous blaming the victims again. Those are the same type who say that a raped woman deserved it because she wore a dress. Get a grip! It takes alot to overcome the trauma caused by rape/molestation. Until you have been through it, dont even pretend that you would do anything differant. Yes, we know, you are all talk now because you havent experienced the attack personally. As for the 26 yr old, her silence did NOT cause the other attack. The actions of the pedophile are his own!
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frankSpooner
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09-22-09 8:28 PM
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anyone from newton falls remember a certain female gym teacher.
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MYVIEW
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09-22-09 6:11 PM
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Sure am glad he wasn't my violin teacher-and by the way if you are giving your kids 'private' music lessons or even school subject tutoring you need to stay with your child- not drop them off and leave them alone with anyone!!
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frankSpooner
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09-22-09 5:49 PM
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lol
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Nobama
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09-22-09 2:39 PM
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Needs to be shot... How do you Ivy Hill residents feel about this?
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henryviii
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09-22-09 11:11 AM
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Ohiojohn2, I graduated from Labrae and never heard of this?
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Billdog
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09-22-09 9:51 AM
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Pervert.
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Handala
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09-22-09 9:49 AM
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I bet when the inmates start playing La grampa like a fiddle he won't sound like a Stradivarius.With that having been said;HOW could a parent not see any change in their child being molested or at least note wedding rings/jewelry/perfume & books that they did'nt provide!?Did'nt these awe struck little girls ever boast his Royalty claims!?Hmm?
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pahootaman
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09-22-09 9:26 AM
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ohiojohn2, Labrae? Was it Mr. Carlson? Oh wait, I think he was barred from teaching in Ohio. I dunno.
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Sassysue
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09-22-09 9:01 AM
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Dr. let's put the blame where it belongs, on this SICK PEDOPHILE.
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DrSpankit
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09-22-09 8:55 AM
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How does a 'caring' parent,not notice the changes that take place,in their own child,when this crime is happening to them? An 8,12,14 0r 17 year old kid shows signs of all,"if you pay attention"..Are some adul;ts guilty of allowing their children to be handled by others,due to their lack of knowing the child they are raising? This man is an animal and a coward criminal.
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skywarn11
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09-22-09 8:33 AM
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sick sick man.
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ohiojohn2
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09-22-09 8:10 AM
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This "Grooming" of potential sex partners in high schools was going on when I was in high school. One teacher married two of his students that I'm aware of and, finally, was assigned a job in the school library to limit his exposure to female students. If anyone reads this from my alma mater they will know of whom I write.
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MeMa0825
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09-22-09 5:37 AM
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Just for the record. Being a survior of Sexual Abuse, you think it's easy to tell someone when you are being abused. Well think again. It's easy to judge if you have never been a "Victim". Courage it definitely an issue but not Moral. It's fear of just the judgements from a person like yourself that keeps young and old alike from coming forward with reports of abuse. I'm a survivor and it's not for the like of you, but by the Grace of God and a lot of hard work to overcome the "H", that I survived. Your words would discourage a victim to come forward because you might think they are "Dirt Bag". Way to go.
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Sassysue
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09-22-09 5:03 AM
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What a guy!! How many young girls would not have been his victim IF ONLY the 26 y/o had spoken up sooner, say at 13...ok she was a kid and probably scared but by 18 certainly. I imagine there are some seriously ****** off fathers right now and some hurting children. Just hang him and save everyone the time, money and trouble.
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jamesbresslerjr
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09-22-09 2:17 AM
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Another case of a young person trusting an adult and mentor. I would love to see this pervert turned over to the father. We are grown people that make our own choices, but when you mess with a kid, no holds barred. What a dirt bag. As far as the 26 year old goe's, she is a dirt bag too. She claims now that he did the same thing to her. Thanks for being silent so an innocent girl gets molested. You did not speak up because you lacked moral courage. Hope you sleep well at night.
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