CLERMONT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
A. J. Rodenberg, Jr., Sheriff
"Leadership By Example"
Office (513) 732-7500
P R E S S R E L E A S E
To: All Media
From: A.J. “ Tim” Rodenberg,
Clermont County Sheriff
Re: Firearms Instructor Arrested
Date: Monday, May 14, 2007
Clermont County, Ohio - A Firearms Safety Instructor has been arrested for failing to provide legally mandated training to Ohio concealed carry applicants. David M. Clark, who conducted classes just east of Amelia, Ohio was arrested on Friday, May 11, 2007, and charged with four (4) counts of Falsification, a misdemeanor of the first degree. An investigation was launched after Chief Deputy Rick Combs received information which raised suspicions about the training and the curriculum. Ohio’s concealed carry law requires twelve hours of training, including ten hours in a classroom and two hours at a firing range. Investigators assigned to the case completed the preliminary investigation and filed the charges Friday. Since the classes are not offered on a fixed schedule, but rather, held at times based upon enrollment, the investigation had been ongoing for several months.
Our staff is reviewing available records and evidence in an attempt to identify those concealed carry applicants who were short changed on the classroom training or range instruction. Once we have the necessary information and records, those falling short of the training requirements will be contacted. Investigators have been able to determine that training offered beginning in November, 2006 and continuing through May 11, 2007, was flawed and not within the requirements of Ohio law. Once the concealed carry license holders who took training from Clark during this time period have been identified they will be notified by our office that their concealed carry licenses are temporarily suspended. They will have 30 days from our notice to them to take the required training from another certified instructor or face revocation of their concealed carry license. Ohio law requires an applicant to provide a certificate of completion from a qualified and certified firearms instructor for the issuance of a license. The Sheriff’s Office then checks the applicant’s background for disqualifying criminal convictions or involuntarily commitment to a mental health facility.
This is the first case of its type in Clermont County and I am only aware of one similar case in Ohio since the inception of the concealed carry law in April, 2004. Clark’s arrest and charges have been reported to the Ohio Attorney Generals Office and the National Rifle Association through which he holds his instructor’s certification. We have also notified all other Ohio Sheriffs of the situation just in the case some of those certified by Clark have applied for a concealed carry license at their offices.
After his arrest last Friday, Clark was released on his own recognizance by the court with the condition that he not conduct nor participate in any instruction associated with Ohio’s Concealed Carry Law. A jail booking photograph of Clark can be obtained by contacting Mary Gregory at 732-7405.
This week the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office will begin contacting those concealed carry license holders who took less than the required amount of instruction from Clark. We ask license holders not to contact our office for information concerning this matter, but rather, wait to be notified by us as the process moves forward.
Charged:
Mr. David M. Clark – 48 years old
2589 Sprague Road (home address)
Bethel, Ohio 45106
1958 State Route 125 Suite E (business address)
Amelia, Ohio 45102