Judge agrees to jail child sex abuse suspect without bond
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Aug. 29, 2022) – The city man accused of sexually abusing two children for years won’t be getting out of jail ahead of his trial.
59-year-old Jeffrey Pringle declined to present evidence in his defense during a hearing in the courtroom of Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Judge Michael Ernest, who granted the state’s motion to hold him in jail without bond.
Pringle has pleaded not guilty to a grand jury indictment charging him with counts of rape and gross sexual imposition with sexually violent predator specifications. Assistant County Prosecutor Kristine Beard made the bond request and explained why during the hearing.
“He has admitted to committing these offenses. He has confirmed what the children have disclosed. He has admitted that he has a sickness and that he can’t control it, and I don’t think any type of release can protect the community from someone with that type of illness.”
The crimes allegedly occurred between October of 2017 and this past July starting when the victims were 8 and 12 years old. Ohio law requires incarcerated defendants to be tried within 90 days of being arrested. However, Pringle has agreed to extend the trial deadline for his case from October 9th to January 8th.