Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly returned to the Athens County Common Pleas Court on Friday for a pretrial hearing and a hearing for contempt to address the sheriff’s failure to produce a list of court-ordered documents.
Visiting Judge Patricia Ann Cosgrove requested that the sheriff hand over the confidential informants, including records regarding firearms, after a long-standing battle by 4 p.m. Friday.
If Kelly produces the documents, the order of contempt will be vacated.
Cuyahoga County Assistant Prosecutor Allan Regas, who is representing Kelly, said that more than 40,000 documents were scanned in regard to the subpoena.
Regas indicated that the the documents will be delivered to the state.
Kelly, 63, pleaded not guilty to his 25-count indictment Feb. 10. His personal attorney, Bradley Koffel, of Columbus, said during the trial that he will remain on the case.
However, he was unable to provide further comment after Cosgrove prohibited both parties from discussing specific case information in the interest of providing an impartial jury.
Kelly is due back in court for a final pretrial Aug. 29 and for a jury trial Sept. 29, both of which will take place at 9 a.m. in the Athens County Common Pleas Court.
Cosgrove also plans to hold two minor pretrials until then to check the status of Kelly’s case. Potential exhibits and witnesses for the case must be submitted to the court no later than Aug. 1.
About 10 students protested outside the courthouse as of 12:50 p.m. Friday, most of whom were involved in the Ohio University College Republicans. The protesters argued that the panel of judges should have enough evidence to suspend the sheriff.
“One felony is one thing, but 23 felonies is just a distraction,” said Colton Henson, a senior studying political science and history.
Dylan Gustafson, president of OU College Republicans and a senior studying finance, added that he believes there is “no credibility” in the sheriff’s office at this point.
“I can’t say if I can predict (whether Kelly will be suspended),” he said. “But I would hope so.”
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