The head of the Narcotics Enforcement Team has continued to receive his normal deputy’s salary since being placed on paid leave after his September arrest — despite a grand jury indictment this week.
Deputy Jerry Hallowell, 44, was indicted Monday on four counts of sexual battery, one count of bribery, one count of attempt to commit sexual battery, one count of theft in office and one count of unauthorized use of Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway, according to court documents.
Hallowell’s annual salary is $42,993.60, and his biweekly pay amounts to $1,653.60, according to the Athens County Auditor’s Office. His salary for 30 weeks — the length of time Hallowell was on paid leave — comes to approximately $24,800.
Three of the sexual battery charges stemmed from incidents on Aug. 6, Sept. 3 and Sept. 5 when Hallowell allegedly had unlawful sexual contact with an undercover informant. The last sexual battery charge happened between April 27 and June 16 with a different individual, according to the documents.
The attempted sexual battery charge came into the picture Sept. 9, when Hallowell, the informant and an unknown female were found at the Super 8 motel, 2091 E. State St., where they had arranged to have a sexual encounter.
Hallowell was arrested by Special Agent Michael Trout, a member of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, a department in the Office of the Ohio Attorney General.
Hallowell was placed on paid leave after his arrest. Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly said he has not yet decided if Hallowell will remain on paid leave.
The other three counts listed on the indictment — bribery, theft in office and unauthorized use of Ohio’s Law Enforcement Gateway — all stemmed from Trout’s investigation of Hallowell from May 20 to the date of his arrest, according to court documents.
Sexual battery and bribery are third-degree felonies. Attempt to commit sexual battery and theft in office are fourth-degree felonies. Unauthorized use of Ohio’s Law Enforcement Gateway is a fifth-degree felony.
Hallowell could spend a maximum of 29 years in prison and pay a maximum fine of $62,500 if convicted of all charges, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
ml147009@ohiou.edu
@ThePostCity
