April trial scheduled in hotel assault case

NORWALK — A Norwalk man facing multiple felony charges tied to an alleged hotel attack is scheduled to stand trial next month in Huron County Common Pleas Court. According to court records, Eric L. Carroll is set for a final pretrial hearing at 9 a.m. April 7. A jury trial is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. April 15. Carroll was indicted in December on 11 felony counts stemming from an Oct. 18, 2025 incident in Norwalk. Police allege Carroll attacked a hotel employee, forcing her into a room and assaulting her before she was able to escape and alert others. He then fled the scene, stole a vehicle and later crashed before being taken into custody after a search. A Huron County grand jury later indicted Carroll on a series of serious charges, including two counts of kidnapping, aggravated burglary, burglary, two counts of abduction, three counts of strangulation, gross sexual imposition and grand theft of a motor vehicle. Prosecutors further allege Carroll caused or attempted to cause physical harm through strangulation and had sexual contact with the victim by force or threat of force. Carroll is also charged with stealing a 2017 Ford F-150 pickup truck during the incident. The most serious charges carry repeat violent offender specifications. The indictment states Carroll has a prior conviction for involuntary manslaughter in Huron County Common Pleas Court in 2015.