Firefighter facing drug charges found in violation of bond
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss ruled Thursday that a Mt. Orab firefighter, charged with allegedly giving marijuana to two children, has violated the terms of his bond after having contact with the alleged victims.
Joel R. Harris, 26, of Clay Township in Highland County, was indicted in July by a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court on two counts of corrupting another with drugs, each a felony of the fourth degree.
According to the court, he was ordered to stay away from the alleged victims.
Assistant Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins said the court was made aware that Harris had contact with the two alleged victims and filed a motion to revoke bond. Harris appeared in court Thursday in the custody of the Highland County Sheriff's Office with his attorney, Matt Jewson of Dayton.
A hearing on the matter was held on Wednesday, but the court asked for testimony from witnesses who were out of the county, and the hearing resumed Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
Jewson told the court that the indictment did not specify who the alleged victim or victims were. Jewson said Harris had asked a court official who the alleged victim was and he did not get an answer.
"We still don't know who the alleged victim is, other than the prosecutor standing here and saying so today," Jewson told Coss.
Jewson said Harris assumed that it was another child, and not the two alleged victims. That assumption was made, Jewson said, because Harris is engaged in ongoing legal battles with the first child's mother.
Collins said Harris was aware of an investigation that had been conducted by Clinton County Children Services regarding the children who are the alleged victims.
The court heard testimony from Judy Brisbine, the children services agent; the custodian of the two children; and the fiancee of Harris.
Following the testimony, Coss ruled the court found Harris to be in violation of his bond. According to a court entry, "The court modifies the defendant's bond as follows: Defendant's bond shall be an additional $5,000, making his total bond $10,000. Defendant may be released upon that bond on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010 at 4 p.m. provided that bond is posted. It is further ordered that special condition (from the original order) be amended to provide that he have no contact with any child under the age of 18. All other conditions of his previous bond remain in effect."
Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss ruled Thursday that a Mt. Orab firefighter, charged with allegedly giving marijuana to two children, has violated the terms of his bond after having contact with the alleged victims.
Joel R. Harris, 26, of Clay Township in Highland County, was indicted in July by a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court on two counts of corrupting another with drugs, each a felony of the fourth degree.
According to the court, he was ordered to stay away from the alleged victims.
Assistant Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins said the court was made aware that Harris had contact with the two alleged victims and filed a motion to revoke bond. Harris appeared in court Thursday in the custody of the Highland County Sheriff's Office with his attorney, Matthew Jewson of Dayton.
A hearing on the matter was held on Wednesday, but the court asked for testimony from witnesses who were out of the county, and the hearing resumed Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
Jewson told the court that the indictment did not specify who the alleged victim or victims were. Jewson said Harris had asked a court official who the alleged victim was and he did not get an answer.
"We still don't know who the alleged victim is, other than the prosecutor standing here and saying so today," Jewson told Coss.
Jewson said Harris assumed that it was another child, and not the two alleged victims. That assumption was made, Jewson said, because Harris is engaged in ongoing legal battles with the first child's mother.
Collins said Harris was aware of an investigation that had been conducted by Clinton County Children Services regarding the children who are the alleged victims.
The court heard testimony from Jody Brisbine, the children services agent; the custodian of the two children; and the fiancee of Harris.
Following the testimony, Coss ruled the court found Harris to be in violation of his bond. According to a court entry, "The court modifies the defendant's bond as follows: Defendant's bond shall be an additional $5,000, making his total bond $10,000. Defendant may be released upon that bond on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010 at 4 p.m. provided that bond is posted. It is further ordered that special condition (from the original order) be amended to provide that he have no contact with any child under the age of 18. All other conditions of his previous bond remain in effect."
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