BELLEFONTAINE — The case against the Indian Lake Schools superintendent is going to the Logan County grand jury.
Patrick O’Donnell, 52, of Lewistown, was charged with one county of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony. He is accused of having alleged sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl. The incidents occurred over a three-year period of time.
During a hearing Monday afternoon in Bellefontaine Municipal Court, the charge against O’Donnell was dismissed. The case will be presented to the grand jury on July 11.
“We chose not to do a preliminary hearing (which O’Donnell had requested),” said Logan County Prosecutor Eric Stewart. “We will be taking the case to the grand jury.”
Stewart said its standard procedure not to hold preliminary hearings in sex abuse cases.
The conditions of bond set by assigned Judge James Rapp when O’Donnell made his first appearance in municipal court, said Stewart are technically null and void since the charge has been dismissed.
However, said Stewart, the victim’s family has asked for, and been granted, a civil protection order against O’Donnell.
O’Donnell was arrested June 19 by the Washington Township Police Department following an investigation of the alleged incident. The girl resides in Logan County but is not a student at Indian Lake Schools.
The police department became aware of the alleged incident after they were contacted by Logan County Children’s Services.
Indian Lake Schools Board of Education placed O’Donnell on paid administrative leave following his arrest. The board will meet in special session Thursday to consider placing him on unpaid leave. High school Principal Robert Underwood was named the acting superintendent.
When the BOE placed O’Donnell on leave, he was instructed to be at his home during regular work hours and not to be on school property or at any school-related functions in the district or at any other locations.
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.
