Former Shelby County deputy enters guilty plea

0

SIDNEY — Former Shelby County deputy William Steinke pleaded guilty to charges of soliciting a prostitute and possession of criminal tools Monday in the Shelby County Common Pleas court.

Steinke, 70, of Sidney, was originally indicted on charges of promoting prostitution, soliciting a prostitute and possession of criminal tools. He was arrested after a sting operation was conducted with a known prostitute in late October 2016.

He has pleaded guilty to possessing “a vehicle used to transport a female to engage in sexual activity for money in an effort to establish a brothel or enterprise as well as a cell phone used for soliciting a female to engage in sexual activity for money,” which is a fifth degree felony.

In November 2016, the Sidney Daily News reported that Steinke had a few issues while he was a deputy at the Shelby County Sheriff’s office, including an incident involving a traffic stop of a 16-year-old girl. She had been drinking and after an “inappropriate” contraband search, he let her drive off on her own. She later crashed the car in Darke County. The sheriff at the time, Kevin O’Leary, allotted $2,220.36 in funds to pay the damage done to the vehicle, which is not illegal.

Steinke retired days later, said to be “forced” by his superiors. He also had an incident where he was caught looking at pornographic material on his government-issued computer.

Steinke is set to be sentenced on Oct. 30 in the Shelby County Court of Common Pleas by Judge James Stevenson.

Steinke
http://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/08/web1_william-steinke-mug.jpgSteinke

By Heather Willard

[email protected]

No posts to display