BELLEFONTAINE — Indian Lake Schools superintendent has been released on bond.
According Karla Stevens, clerk of courts for Bellefontaine Municipal Court, Patrick O’Donnell, 52, of Lewistown, was released from the Logan County Jail Tuesday after posting a $100,000 cash or surety bond. O’Donnell has been charged with gross sexual imposition, a third degree felony. He is being charged for alleged sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl.
O’Donnell made his initial appearance in Bellefontaine Municipal Court Tuesday before assigned Judge James Rapp. He appeared with his attorney, Peter Desomma, of Bellefontaine, and requested a preliminary hearing be held. The hearing has been scheduled for June 26 at 5 p.m. Bellefontaine Municipal Court Judge Ann Beck is expected to be on the bench for the hearing.
Rapp set several conditions for bond for O’Donnell. The conditions include O’Donnell having no contact with the alleged victim; he cannot possess any firearms; and he cannot have any firearms in his home while the case is pending.
O’Donnell was arrested Monday by the Washington Township Police Department. The department investigated information provided by the Logan County Children’s Service about the alleged abuse. The investigation took approximately a week to conduct, ending with O’Donnell’s arrest Monday.
During a meeting Monday night, the Indian Lake Schools Board of Educaiton placed O’Donnell on paid administrative leave. They appointed high school principal Robert Underwood as interim superintendent.
The BOE told O’Donnell he must be at his home during regular work hours and cannot be on school property nor attend any school-related functions at the school or any other location.
The 13-year-old girl resides in Logan County but is not a student at Indian Lake Schools. The alleged abuse has been ongoing for three years.
The case remains under investigation. The Logan County Prosecutor’s Office is expected to present the case to the grand jury in July.
O’Donnell has been with the Indian Lake School District since 2010. He had been employed by Sidney City Schools for 20 years. He had been the district’s superintendent, principal at Northwood Elementary School and a teacher.
