Two year wait for a misdemeanor

Bill O'Reilly would be yelling for a boycott of Ohio if this was an ordinary child sex predator instead of a sheriff's deputy.

Two years ago he had sex with a 16 year old girl who was a witness in a case he was investigating. At least the Sheriff's Office had sense enough to fire him, but the state AG can't seem to make felony charges stick (the AG's office is prosecuting because the guy's wife works for the local prosecutor).

BELLEFONTAINE — Sexual battery charges against a former sheriff's detective accused of sexual activity with a 16-year-old girl have been dismissed for a second time.

Visiting Judge David Faulkner dismissed the two felony counts and a misdemeanor charge of child endangerment against Jon Stout, 38, Thursday in Logan County Common Pleas Court.

Prosecutors accuse Stout of having contact with the girl in September 2005. He was indicted in 2006 on two counts of sexual battery and four misdemeanors — public indecency, interference with custody, contributing to the unruliness of a child and child endangering.

Judge Mark O'Connor of Logan County Common Pleas Court dismissed the battery and child endangering charges last year, and his decision was upheld in part by a state appeals court.

Prosecutors re-indicted the former Logan County detective but were unsuccessful in arguing that the charges were appropriate because Stout was acting in the role of a parent when the alleged acts occurred. Trial on the three remaining misdemeanor charges was set for June 13.