Another prosecutor has been appointed in the case to prosecute suspended Pike County Sheriff Charles S. Reader.
On Wednesday at Reader’s final pre-trial hearing, the state filed motions in the case to allow Leigh Bayer to become a special prosecutor in the case. Bob Smith is the special prosecutor on the case, and has asked that he be able to beef up his team. Smith is with the State of Ohio’s auditor’s office. Bayer was recently hired by the auditor, according to a Wednesday filing by Smith, but hails from the Attorney General.
Her most recent job with the state’s top cop was a “senior attorney” for a department called “executive agencies.” In her job there, Bayer was a staff attorney for Ohio’s departments of Administrative Services, Agriculture, Commerce, Development, Public Safety, and numerous boards and commissions.
“Ms. Bayer has agreed to serve as Special Prosecutor at no cost to Pike County if appointed by this honorable court,” Smith wrote in his motion. Within minutes, the visiting Judge, Chris Martin approved the motion.
As you may recall, Reader is facing a 16 count indictment alleging a host of crimes, which includes borrowing money from his deputies.
The suspended Sheriff has been placed under a court gag order and is not able to speak about the case.
Reader was suspended by the Supreme Court of Ohio in August; an interim Sheriff has been named for the time being. Reader’s trial is set for Spring 2020.
Editor’s note: The Guardian’s interim Editor-in-chief, Derek Myers, was the Pike County Sheriff’s spokesperson until July 2019.