Lawsuit: Wood County Fair Board Negligence Led to Abuse of Local Minor by Indicted Former President

Charles Boyk Law Offices has filed a major civil lawsuit in the
Wood County Common Pleas Court against the Wood County
Agricultural Society, the Wood County Fair Foundation, and
former Fair Board President Brock E. Abke. The complaint,
filed on behalf of a local minor and his family, alleges that the
Fair Board’s negligence allowed Abke to use his position of
authority to groom and abuse a 17-year-old boy.

The civil filing follows a 13-count criminal indictment
against the 31-year-old Perrysburg man. The criminal
charges include:

■ Five second-degree felony counts of pandering
obscenity involving a minor.
■ Five fourth-degree felony counts of pandering
obscenity involving a minor.
■ One fifth-degree felony count of importuning for
allegedly soliciting sex from a 15-year-old.
■ Two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a
minor.

The civil complaint argues that the Wood County Fair Board
knew or should have known that Abke was “dangerous and
outrageous” and had previously lost regular employment due
to inappropriate conduct with minors. Despite this, the
lawsuit claims the board allowed Abke to remain in direct
contact with junior 4H clubs and even lead youth camping
events.

The plaintiffs allege that from May 2023 to May 2025, Abke
used his status to groom the minor, purchasing him vapes and
alcohol, sending him money, and sharing over 40 sexually
explicit photos via Snapchat.
Abke’s history with the Wood County Fair is extensive; he
served as a board member starting in 2015, held the oce of
president from 2017 to 2018, and was the board’s secretary
as recently as 2025.

“Families put their trust in the Fair Board that their children
are safe when participating in wholesome 4-H activities,”
says Attorney Chuck Boyk. “The Wood County Fair Board has
failed in its fiduciary responsibility and betrayed that trust.”
Currently, Abke remains under strict house arrest with GPS
monitoring. A judge recently denied his request for bond
modification after representatives for the alleged victims
appeared in court to state they were “absolutely opposed” to
any loosening of his restrictions.

The family, whose identities are being protected due to the
sensitive nature of the case, is seeking in excess of $25,000
and punitive damages to address the severe psychological
damage and emotional distress reportedly suffered by the
minor. The case was assigned to Wood County Common
Pleas Judge Mary “Molly” L. Mack.