WAVERLY — The sheriff of Pike County, in southern Ohio, has pleaded not guilty to charges including theft in office and evidence-tampering after authorities looked into a complaint accusing him of stealing money that had been seized in drug cases.
A judge said Tuesday that Sheriff Charles Reader will be allowed to remain free on bond but told him he’s not allowed to have contact with witnesses in the case.
Ohio Auditor Keith Faber’s office is handling the case and has asked the Ohio Supreme Court to suspend the sheriff.
A spokesman for the sheriff said Tuesday that Reader has no plans to step down and will fight any attempts to force him out.
The state’s attorney general also has called for the sheriff to be removed from office.
“Sheriff Reader violated the public’s trust when he used his office to benefit himself rather than the public. Reader has been credibly accused and indicted. Under these circumstances, I don’t see how he can be an effective law enforcement officer,” David Yost said in a statement announcing his support of Faber’s request to establish a special commission to review whether Reader should be suspended from office.
Yost says Reader’s removal would not impact the prosecution of suspects accused of murdering eight members of the Rhoden family in Pike County in 2016.