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Home > Blogs > Dayton Courts: Legal and crime news > Archives > 2010 > September > 14 > Entry
Not guilty plea entered for Senate candidate charged with sex crime
DAYTON — U.S. Senate candidate Eric W. Deaton, charged with having sexual conduct with a teenager, appeared in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Tuesday, Sept. 14, where a judge entered a not-guilty plea for him.
Judge Connie S. Price also allowed Deaton to remain free on his own recognizance, but ordered him not to have contact with the alleged victim.
Deaton, a Constitution Party candidate, was indicted Aug. 31 on the third-degree felony, which is punishable by up to five years in prison. The indictment alleges that between March 20, 2006, and March 25, 2007, Deaton engaged in sexual conduct with a girl who was between the ages of 13 and 15.
Deaton, 42, of New Lebanon, has denied the accusation. His attorney, Jon Paul Rion has said the timing of the indictment so close to the election is “suspicious,” though authorities denied there was any political motivation.
Perry Twp. Police Chief Bob Bowman said evidence includes an audiotape of Deaton admitting to the girl that he had sexual contact with her, and receipts from multiple visits to a Moraine motel. The girl is now an adult.
Police learned of the allegations in October from the Rev. Phil Reynolds, pastor of Bear Creek Church of the Brethren.
Deaton was a church elder and had mentored the girl, then 15 and also a church member. Deaton allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse with the girl on multiple occasions in Perry Twp. and in Moraine, Bowman said.
Reynolds said Deaton resigned as an elder on the church board at the end of 2009 to run for the U.S. Senate. Since Deaton did not have direct responsibility for children when he was on the board he was not asked to resign after the allegations were made, Reynolds said.
Deaton is a registered leader of the Cub Scouts and will not be permitted to continue in that capacity, said Ken Wade, executive director of the Miami Valley Council-Boy Scouts of America.
Attorney Jon Paul Rion said Deaton passed a lie detector test administered through the law office. “That shows these allegations are not true,” Rion said.
Rion said the evidence that authorities have collected will be used to prove Deaton’s innocence.
Deaton is running for the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio. The other candidates are Democrat Lee Fisher, Republican Rob Portman, Socialist Daniel H. LaBotz, independent Michael Pryce and write-in candidate Arthur T. Sullivan.
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