Licking County judge denies bond increase for Newark man charged in infant's death

NEWARK, Ohio (WCMH) – A man charged in the death of a 4-month-old child who died in 2023 was in a Licking County court room Tuesday morning.

According to Licking County Court of Common Pleas records, 27-year-old Chance Topp is charged with one count each of murder, involuntary manslaughter, strangulation and reckless homicide, along with two counts each of endangering children and misdemeanor domestic violence.

A grand jury indictment returned formal charges on July 2 after Topp, of Newark, was arrested two weeks prior in connection to the death of his 4-month-old daughter, who was hospitalized and pronounced dead on Oct. 13, 2023.

Licking County deputies and officers with the Utica Police Department responded to a home on Crestview Drive on reports of an unresponsive child. The infant was taken to Licking Memorial hospital with what medical personnel described as suspicious injuries.

A months-long investigation, which included a search warrant at the child’s home, multiple interviews, forensic testing, and the collection of physical evidence, resulted in the arrest of Topp, the child’s father.

On Tuesday, Topp pleaded not guilty to all charges in common pleas court. Initially issued a $2 million bond in municipal court, prosecuting attorneys asked a common pleas judge to raise the amount of bond to $4 million, but that request was denied.