Case dismissed against former corrections officer; peace officer certification forfeited
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The case of a former corrections officer with the Highland County Justice Center indicted on a charge of sexual battery has been dismissed. However, according to the Highland County Prosecutor's Office, as a result of the charge being dismissed, the defendant agreed to never be a law enforcement officer again.
Christopher L. Hilderbrandt, 30, of Highland County, was indicted in October on one count of sexual battery, a felony of the third degree.
He had been scheduled to stand trial on Thursday.
The indictment was the result of allegations issued to the Highland County Sheriff’s Office that Hilderbrandt, who was a corrections officer at the time, was engaging in inappropriate relationships with inmates, according to the HCSO. An internal investigation was opened on June 25 which involved interviews of current and former inmates. On July 8 Hilderbrandt resigned his position with the Sheriff’s Office.
On Feb. 8, the charge was dismissed, according to an entry filed in the Highland County Clerk of Courts Office.
"In discussions with law enforcement, they wanted to make sure he was never a police officer again," said Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey. "His attorney came to us and he offered to turn in the law enforcement certification, and I was told to go ahead and do it, and that's how it came about."
The court entry does not note that the peace officer certification should be turned in.
Grandey said, "He did in fact turn in his law enforcement license. The charge wasn't dismissed until he did that. If he had not done that, we would be going to trial (Thursday).
Hilderbrandt's attorney, George M. Wolfe, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
"I think law enforcement is satisfied," Grandey said. "He certainly did not deserve to be a police officer and that was the big thing. I spoke to the victim who really was fine with what we did."
Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward said that he had concerns the court entry does not reflect the stipulation that the peace officer certification be forfeited. Ward said that typically in order for the certification to be forfeited, "the court entry is forwarded to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission in London, Ohio, and they cancel his certification and put it in a database. Were he to go to another state to begin the peace officer training process, he couldn't."
Ward said "this issue needs to be cleared up" because he wants to be sure Hilderbrandt cannot work in law enforcement again.
"Mr. Hilderbrandt does not need to be a police officer again, anywhere," Ward said. "I think that is essential."
The case of a former corrections officer with the Highland County Justice Center indicted on a charge of sexual battery has been dismissed. However, according to the Highland County Prosecutor's Office, as a result of the charge being dismissed, the defendant agreed to never be a law enforcement officer again.
Christopher L. Hilderbrandt, 30, of Highland County, was indicted in October on one count of sexual battery, a felony of the third degree.
He had been scheduled to stand trial on Thursday.
The indictment was the result of allegations issued to the Highland County Sheriff’s Office that Hilderbrandt, who was a corrections officer at the time, was engaging in inappropriate relationships with inmates, according to the HCSO. An internal investigation was opened on June 25 which involved interviews of current and former inmates. On July 8 Hilderbrandt resigned his position with the Sheriff’s Office.
On Feb. 8, the charge was dismissed, according to an entry filed in the Highland County Clerk of Courts Office.
"In discussions with law enforcement, they wanted to make sure he was never a police officer again," said Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey. "His attorney came to us and he offered to turn in the law enforcement certification, and I was told to go ahead and do it, and that's how it came about."
The court entry does not note that the peace officer certification should be turned in.
Grandey said, "He did in fact turn in his law enforcement license. The charge wasn't dismissed until he did that. If he had not done that, we would be going to trial (Thursday).
Hilderbrandt's attorney, George M. Wolfe, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
"I think law enforcement is satisfied," Grandey said. "He certainly did not deserve to be a police officer and that was the big thing. I spoke to the victim who really was fine with what we did."
Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward said that he had concerns the court entry does not reflect the stipulation that the peace officer certification be forfeited. Ward said that typically in order for the certification to be forfeited, "the court entry is forwarded to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission in London, Ohio, and they cancel his certification and put it in a database. Were he to go to another state to begin the peace officer training process, he couldn't."
Ward said "this issue needs to be cleared up" because he wants to be sure Hilderbrandt cannot work in law enforcement again.
"Mr. Hilderbrandt does not need to be a police officer again, anywhere," Ward said. "I think that is essential."
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