A civil lawsuit has been filed 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 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 started in 2015 as a board member, serving as president from 2017 to 2018, and then as 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,” said attorney Chuck Boyk. “The Wood County Fair Board has failed in its fiduciary responsibility and betrayed that trust.”
Currently, Abke remains under 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 opposed to any loosening of his restrictions.
The family is seeking in excess of $25,000 and punitive damages to address the psychological damage and emotional distress reportedly suffered by the minor.
The lawsuit has been assigned to Wood County Common Pleas Judge Mary “Molly” L. Mack.
