The head of the Athens County Narcotics Enforcement Team resigned from his position Friday after pleading not guilty to eight felony counts last month.
Sheriff’s deputy Jerry Hallowell, 44, has been on paid leave since his Sept. 9 arrest when he was charged with 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.
The sexual battery charges stemmed from three different incidents Aug. 6, Sept. 3 and Sept. 5, when Hallowell allegedly had unlawful sexual contact with an undercover informant.
The attempt to commit sexual battery charge occurred Sept. 9, when Hallowell was found at the Super 8 motel, 2091 E. State St., with the informant and an unknown female during an arranged sexual encounter.
The remaining charges were a result of an investigation 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.
Until his resignation Friday, Hallowell was being paid the normal deputy’s salary of $42,993.60 annually and $1,653.60 biweekly.
Hallowell was arraigned April 18. He pleaded not guilty on all the charges.
Hallowell could spend a maximum of 29 years in prison and pay up to $62,500 if convicted of all charges, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
Although Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly could not be reached for comment, officials in the sheriff’s office confirmed Hallowell’s resignation.
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