Cledith Arthur, the former stepfather of Ohio political figure Amy Acton, has died, according to reports detailing his criminal case and the family’s history. Arthur, who was associated with Austintown, Ohio, became the subject of legal proceedings in 1978 after being accused of sexually abusing his then-12-year-old stepdaughter.
According to reporting by The Associated Press and other news organizations published on October 20, 2026, Arthur was arrested in July 1978 and charged with raping Acton. The allegations reportedly concerned abuse that occurred between December 1976 and April 1978.
Arthur pleaded not guilty to the charge and was indicted by a grand jury in September 1978. However, he failed to appear at a subsequent court hearing and was declared a fugitive. Authorities reportedly issued warrants in attempts to locate him.
Court records and published reports indicate that Arthur later died in 2004 in southern Pennsylvania. The available reporting does not establish that he was convicted of the 1978 rape charge. Accordingly, describing him as having been convicted of that offense would be inaccurate.
The case had a profound impact on Acton and her family. Following Arthur’s arrest and the allegations, Acton and her brother, Philip Stearns, were removed from their mother’s custody.
Acton has spoken publicly about her difficult childhood, including experiences of abuse, neglect and homelessness. In an account published by the Youngstown Vindicator in 2019, she described the instability she experienced while growing up in the Youngstown area.
Arthur’s death has resurfaced in news coverage of Acton’s family history, particularly following renewed public attention to the allegations and the circumstances surrounding her childhood.
Although Arthur’s death has been reported, the case remains an important part of the documented history of Acton’s early life. His death in 2004 and the criminal proceedings initiated in 1978 are distinct facts, and the available records should be represented accurately.