Athens County Commissioner Mark Sullivan, 51, will face a misdemeanor domestic violence charge stemming from an incident between himself and his wife this weekend.
Deputies from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office were called to Sullivan’s home in Millfield early Saturday morning to handle a domestic disturbance call.
Neither Sullivan nor his wife were arrested by deputies, and the commissioner agreed to temporarily leave the residence with his two children.
However Sheriff Pat Kelly confirmed Monday that his office will summons Sullivan to court to face charges.
"We are going to issue a summons for Mark for one domestic violence misdemeanor,” Kelly said.
Although Sullivan’s wife admitted to initiating the physical altercation, Kelly said she had some bruising and blood on her face.
Athens County domestic violence protocol states that in domestic violence cases police are to arrest whichever party seems to have inflicted the most injury to the other, regardless of who initiated the altercation.
Kelly added that his deputies were called to Sullivan’s residence last summer to mediate a similar altercation, however no charges were filed.
Sullivan has been a county commissioner since 1998 and is running for re-election next year. He could not be immediately reached for comment.
wl372808@ohiou.edu
@ThePostCity
