Tucker appears in motion to suppress hearing, asks for bond reduction

Larry Tucker appeared in court with his attorney, Kirk McVay. Photo by Carrie Gloeckner.

POMEROY, Ohio – A former probation official and Middleport Jail officer was in court October 29, 2018 concerning the 28 charges he is facing.

Larry David Tucker, 55, was indicted by a special Meigs County Grand Jury on May 3, 2018 with a total of 28 counts. Of the 28 counts, 27 were felony charges along with one misdemeanor. Tucker was charged with the following: six counts of Kidnapping, all felonies of the first degree; six counts of Sexual Battery, all felonies of the third degree; five counts of Gross Sexual Imposition, all felonies of the fourth degree; five counts of Attempted Sexual Battery, all felonies of the fourth degree; four counts of Attempted Compelling Prostitution, all felonies of the fourth degree; one count of Theft in Office, a felony of the fifth degree; and one count of Soliciting, a misdemeanor of the third degree.

Tucker appeared in the Meigs County Court of Common Pleas in front of Judge Linton Lewis. Along with Tucker was his attorney, Kirk Allen McVay. Representing the state was Angela Canepa, special prosecutor assigned to the case by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. A motion to suppress an interview conducted with Tucker and Special Agent J. Jenkins with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations at the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office. Testimony was given by Special Agent Jenkins concerning the interview. Repeatedly on the stand Jenkins said Tucker was not under arrest during the interview. The defense is questioning the interview which was recorded. Also testifying was Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney James Stanley that following the interview, Tucker was formally charged with one count. Tucker was subsequently indicted on multiple charges. Judge Lewis will now consider the testimony and motions. It was not clear when the judge may rule on the motion to suppress.

Also on record was a plea agreement that Tucker turned down according to statements in court by Canepa.

Additionally, a waiver of extradition was signed by Tucker. He was requesting the court to allow him to travel to West Virginia and submitted the signed waiver of extradition to the court. McVay also petitioned the court to reduce the bond from $200,000 cash. Canepa argued that the charges are serious and, if convicted, could mean a life sentence for Tucker. Judge Lewis ordered the bond would remain the same, meaning that if Tucker wanted to get out on bail, he would need to contact a company that specializes in online bail bonds to pay the exact amount, or he would need to rely on the generosity of the people closest to him.

The case is scheduled for a March 6, 2019 jury trial.

All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

For more on this case, read previously reported stories in the Meigs Independent Press below.