FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ohio — A third victim has come forward against a man accused of attempting to kidnap a 12-year-year-old girl in southeast Columbus over the weekend.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office did not release details regarding the third victim's case, but says the victim came forward after officers arrested 48-year-old Joseph Ennemoser on Sunday. More information is expected to be released in the coming days.
A detective from the sheriff's office says he expects more victims to come forward, but many residents are questioning why Ennemoser was out on bond in the first place.
Ennemoser was arrested in September 2022 for allegedly exposing himself to a 10-year-old girl in Hilliard, according to police.
On Sunday, Ennemoser was arrested and charged after trying to abduct a 12-year-old girl walking to school on Feb. 10.
Joel Harris, the uncle of the 10-year-old Hilliard girl, said he could not believe a convicted child offender was on the streets yet again to prey on more children.
“When it first happened, I was scared, but this time it was just pure anger,” says Harris. "It gets me choked up even having to say it but when it first happened, she said she wanted to shave her head so men wouldn't think she was pretty, and as a father figure for her, that just eats you up."
According to court records, Ennemoser was out on an $80,000 bond waiting for trial. In 2003, Ennemoser pleaded guilty to two counts of gross sexual imposition regarding an incident involving a girl who was 7 or 8 years old in 2001. He was sentenced to six years in prison, according to Licking County Common Pleas Court records.
"Anybody that looks at this guy's wrap sheet knows that he's just going to keep doing it,” Harris said.
During Friday's alleged incident, police said Ennemoser was driving a white Chevrolet truck and attempted to abduct an 12-year-old girl who was walking to Groveport Madison Middle School.
"He approached the girl, from our investigation, she actually did go inside the vehicle. He drove around but then later let her out of the vehicle,” says Sergeant Brian Toth, a detective for the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. "It's by the grace of God that she's home safe."
Toth said Ennesor asked the girl a series of questions to entice her into his truck. Once inside, Ennesor allegedly exposed himself. When the girl was able to escape, her guardian flagged down a nearby officer and Ennesor left the scene.
"Why is an adult asking a small child for directions to maybe a school or a business, or maybe their lost dog? Those are the things that they want to use to entice them to capture a child's interest,” explained Toth.
Toth advises parents to have conversations with their children, warning them about potential predators.
"Do not get in that vehicle, no matter what. You're not being disrespectful, run away, do not engage to conversation,” Toth said.
Both Madison Township police and the sheriff's office were able to identify Ennemoser within four hours thanks to Ring cameras from residents and tips from Facebook. Toth said anyone with additional camera footage of a white Chevrolet truck or Ennemoser to turn it into authorities.
“The quicker this all unravels the quicker we can get an individual like this with his vast history of the same stuff into custody,” shares Commander Victor Boyd of Madison Township Police.
Both teams say these convicted felons should not be let out on bond.
"In a situation like this, especially with the history this man has, there should be no bond. He should have to sit there until this is said through the courts,” said Boyd.
"Obviously there's gotta' be some kind of changes within our justice system. These crimes and the way we handle crimes against children is a joke,” Harris said.
Kim Brown is the judge in the case involving Joel Harris’ niece. Her court revoked Ennemoser’s bond on Monday due to the new charge. A representative from Judge Brown’s Office said under both the U.S. and Ohio constitutions, everyone has a right to a bond if charged with a felony offense. The Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office said they requested the highest bonds in the most serious felonies, and what happens is up to the judge.
A different judge set Ennemoser’s bond in the new case Monday morning at $1.5 million. Even if he makes bond in that case, he’ll stay in jail since bail was revoked in the older case. Ennemoser is due in court next week.