The head of the Athens County Narcotics Task Force was arraigned on sexual battery charges Friday.
Deputy Jerry Hallowell, 43, appeared before Judge William Grim of Athens County Municipal Court on three counts of sexual battery and one count of attempted sexual battery, according to court documents.
Sexual battery is defined as a person engaging in sexual conduct with another person who shows any type of resistance, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
Each charge stems from a different incident reported by the victim, an undercover female informant.
The sexual batteries occurred on Aug. 6, Sept. 3 and Sept. 5. The attempted sexual battery occurred on Sept. 9, according to court documents.
Sexual battery is a third degree felony and attempted sexual battery is a fourth degree felony. Hallowell could spend a maximum of 16 years and six months in prison and pay a maximum fine of $35,000 if convicted of all charges, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
Athens County Prosecutor C. David Warren informed Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly about Hallowell's arrest Thursday night, according to a news release from Warren.
Sheriff Kelly
deputies his office staff and I are shocked and devastated by the allegations contained in the complaint Warren said in the release.
Hallowell is out on $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing Sept. 20 at 2 p.m.
Hallowell has been suspended with pay until further action is taken by Kelly or the Athens County Grand Jury.
Special Prosecuting Attorney David Landefeld from Fairfield County is handling the case. Landefeld could not be reached for comment.
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Marika Lee
