A former village of Owensville Police Department Sergeant, Jacob Hacker, has been charged with a fourth degree felony of theft of drugs.
Hacker, 32, has already posted on his $10,000 bond with 10 percent posted to the Clermont County Court of Common Pleas, as of June 21.
On that date, Hacker was formally arrested, but the offense occurred on March 31, 2018, where it’s alleged that Hacker “with purpose to deprive the owner of property or services, did knowingly obtain or exert control over either the property or the services by deception, and the property involved in the offense of a dangerous drug.”
There was a slight issue arresting Hacker, as his address was listed in Loveland, Ohio, but it turned out the address was not actually in Clermont County.
On June 21, Hacker’s defense attorney, Mark Tekulve, put forth a request for Intervention in Lieu of Conviction (IILC), which in the Ohio means offenders who meet certain thresholds can receive court-supervised treatment instead of a conviction and sentence when they’ve been charged with a low-level offense.
The five rationals given by the defense: 1.) Hacker had not previously been convicted or pleaded guilty to a felony; 2.) The offense is not a first, second or third degree felony; 3.) Hacker desires to be assessed and participate in an appropriate program; 4.) Hacker’s drug or alcohol usage was a factor leading to the criminal offense with which he was charged; Hacker also has a mental illness and “that mental illness was a factor leading to his criminal behavior,” so an IILC would “not demean the seriousness of the offense,” but it would “substantially reduce the likelihood of any future criminal activity; and 5.) Hacker is willing to comply with such terms and conditions imposed by the court.
Hacker pleaded not guilty to the felony charge.
According to Owensville Police Chief Mike Freeman, Hacker resigned in May, effective by June 1.
“Legal counsel has said, ‘You do not say anything or you do not release anything,” Freeman said, on why he couldn’t discuss the case. “Everything is still pending.”
In May of 2016, at the Clermont Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Banquet, Hacker won the Drug Investigation and Arrest Award.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for the county, Darren Miller, did not return comment to The Sun.
The Sun is also awaiting to hear back from Tekulve.
Hacker is next due in court before Judge Richard P. Ferenc on July 26 at 8:30 a.m.