Jail officer placed on administrative leave following arrest for sexual battery

UPDATED INFORMATION

MIDDLEPORT, Ohio – In a statement from the Village of Middleport, a corrections officer has been placed on administrative leave without pay following an arrest for alleged sexual battery.

According to a statement from Middleport Village Solicitor, Richard H. Hedges, Larry Tucker who had been serving as a part time corrections officer was placed on unpaid administrative leave. Chief Bruce Swift and Assistant Chief/Jail Administrator Mony Wood informed Tucker of the change in his employment status on Nov. 15, 2017.

The statement released from Solicitor Hedges also stated, “Mr. Tucker was criminally charged on Nov. 15, 2017 by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Consequently, Mr. Tucker’s employment status was suspended pursuant to Village policy. His future employment status will be reviewed and determined by Mayor Sandy Innerelli in the next five business days. Mr. Tucker has been directed not to be on any Village office property or have any contact with anyone associated with the Middleport Jail or Village government.”

Tucker was arrested and charged with one count of sexual battery for allegedly having sexual conduct with an inmate at the Middleport facility while he was working in the capacity as a corrections officer. He also has served as a Probation Officer for the Meigs County Court of Common Pleas. The status of his position with the Meigs County Court has not yet been addressed publicly. Tucker has not been back to work at the courthouse, however.

Tucker also has a seat on the Meigs Local Board of Education. The school superintendent, Scot Gheen released a statement on the arrest. The school does not have the same authority over an elected official as they would an employee. The statement said the district has asked Tucker to stay away from Meigs Local property for the duration of the case or until further notice.

Tucker is currently out on an OR bond. A special prosector has been called in to handle the case and the investigation is being handled through the Ohio BCI, not locally.

The suspect is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

For more information on the original story, click the link below.