The head of the Athens County Drug task force was arraigned on sexual battery charges Friday.
Deputy Jerry Hallowell, 43, appeared before Athens County Municipal Court Judge William Grim 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 and each incident was reported by the victim, an undercover informant.
The sexual batteries took place on Aug. 6, Sept. 3 and Sept. 5. The attempted sexual battery took place on Sept. 9, according to court documents.
Sexual battery is a three degree felony and attempted sexual battery is a fourth degree felony. Hallowell could spend a maximum of 21 years and three months in prison and pay a maximum fine of $35,000 if convicted of all charges, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
Hallowell is out on $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. A prosecutor from Fairfield County is handling the case.
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Marika Lee
