Former Waynesville citizen of the year accused of spanking man

Dayton Daily News

Ron Kronenberger: Just dial 1 - 800 -  Spank Me

A local business leader, Waynesville’s Citizen of the Year in 2006, is facing an assault charge accusing him of spanking a 29-year-old male tenant in a dispute over more than $2,000 in overdue rent.

Ron Kronenberger, 53, of Waynesville is scheduled for arraignment at 1 p.m. Thursday on an assault charge stemming from the Jan. 22 incident at his office at the Hometown Marketplace, a supermarket he owns in Waynesville.

Kronenberger is accused of striking the alleged victim four times on the bare buttocks with a belt. Pictures taken showed “little marks,” according to a police report.

“If you’re going to act like a child, I’m going to treat you like one,” Kronenberger said before the alleged assault, according to the report.

Kronenberger, past president of the Waynesville Area Chamber of Commerce, could not be reached for comment and declined to make a statement to police, according to reports. His lawyer, Lawrence Greger, could not be reached.

In response to questions from Police Chief Gary Copeland, the alleged victim said “he was scared and just wanted to get it over with,” according to the report...  READ MORE