Former citizen of the year accused of spanking tenant on bare buttocks in overdue rent dispute

Waynesville Ohio’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 $2,800 in overdue rent.

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



Kronenberger, past president of the Waynesville Area Chamber of Commerce, is accused of striking the alleged victim four times on the bare buttocks with a belt. “If you’re going to act like a child, I’m going to treat you like one,” Kronenberger said before the alleged assault.

In response to questions from Police Chief Gary Copeland, the alleged victim said “he was scared and just wanted to get it over with.” Kronenberger is charged with one count of assault, usually a first-degree misdemeanor.