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Judge Reinstates No-Contact Order in Ohio County Sexual Abuse Case

REDFORD

WHEELING — Circuit Judge David Sims ruled Tuesday that former Linsly School head of security Phillip Redford cannot have contact with his fiancee, with whom he’s accused of having a sexual relationship while she was a 17-year-old student at the school.

Sims ordered that Redford’s original bond conditions, set by Ohio County Magistrate Patty Murphy last month, remain in effect. The order is in response to bond-condition modifications made Monday by Hancock County Magistrate Scott Hicks during Redford’s preliminary hearing in Ohio County Magistrate Court.

Hicks was assigned because all Ohio County magistrates recused themselves based on conflict of interest. Redford is a former Wheeling Police Department lieutenant.

In his order, Sims also cited his own conflict of interest.

“This court has a conflict of interest in this matter and therefore cannot consider the merits of” the bond modifications, Sims wrote. “Therefore, this court is staying the order entered by Respondent Magistrate Hicks pending a full hearing on the merits of the petition before the court assigned to hear this matter.”

Hicks’ changes included lifting Redford’s no-contact order with the alleged victim, and easing Redford’s travel restrictions to include the entire states of West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Redford would be allowed to travel outside those three states with a circuit court judge’s approval.

After Monday’s preliminary hearing Hicks bound over Redford’s case for consideration by a grand jury. Redford is charged with sexual abuse by a person in position of trust, a felony.

On Aug. 9, he resigned his Linsly post and retired from the department.

He’s accused of having an ongoing, sexual relationship with the student from January to May, according to a criminal complaint written by State Police Sgt. Scott Adams, investigator with the Crimes Against Children Unit.

The student graduated in May, turned 18 in early June, and is now a college student engaged to be married to Redford. She testified at at Redford’s hearing Monday that their relationship didn’t turn sexual until two weeks after she had graduated, and after she turned 18.

Paul Harris, attorney for the teen’s father, said Brooke County Prosecutor Joe Barki, appointed special prosecutor for the case, pointed out to the circuit court a special statute that deals with bond requirements in sex abuse cases.

“When you have a sex abuse case, bond cannot be granted which permits contact between the perpetrator and the victim,” Harris said.

Barki could not be reached for comment.

Redford now must adhere to the original bond conditions, which prohibit him from having any contact with the teen or traveling outside a 30-mile radius of Wheeling, according to Sims’ order.

A full hearing on the merits of Hicks’ petition will be held after another judge can be assigned, Sims’ order states.

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