Deputy accused in domestic violence case now on unpaid leave

UPDATE @ 5:25 p.m. (Feb. 17): Sheriff's Deputy Douglas Gearhart is now on unpaid administrative leave, according to a letter from the Montgomery County Sheriff's office personnel director.

Gearhart, in the letter dated Feb. 16, is required to surrender his weapon, ID credentials, badge, keys and entry card. He also is prohibited from accessing the sheriff's office computer systems and programs.

As of Friday afternoon, he was still in custody in the Warren County Jail. NEW: As of 8:03 p.m., Gearhart was no longer listed as a jail inmate, indicating he has posted bond and has been released.

EARLIER REPORT (Feb. 17)

A Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputy accused of assaulting his wife and stepdaughter earlier this week in Franklin Twp. was expected to be free on bond Friday.

Deputy Douglas C. Gearhart, 43, was allegedly intoxicated Tuesday evening when he fought with his step-daughters and wife, who lost three teeth during the incident.

Gearhart was arrested by Warren County Sheriff’s deputies and charged with two counts of domestic violence.

A charge of felonious assault was added later. He also is expected to face a drunk driving charge.

Judge Rupert Ruppert set bond at $35,000 cash or surety and Gearhart was expected to be released this afternoon.

He was being held in the Warren County Jail without bond, pending today’s hearing in Franklin Municipal Court.

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During the hearing, Ruppert also ordered Gearhart not to erase home surveillance video.

If released, Gearhart is expected to live with his parents. He is barred from contact with the alleged victims and be on a GPS monitor.

RELATED: Man assaults deputy during traffic stop, flees after pursuit.

Lawyer Ed Perry sought a low bond, noting Gearhart’s ties with the area.

Born and raised in West Carrollton, Gearhart first worked as a police officer in Middletown from 1996 to 2001, when he joined the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, according to Perry.

A police incident report said surveillance footage from inside Gearhart’s Franklin Twp. home showed him grabbing his wife, dragging her by the hair through the kitchen and slamming her head onto the edge of the kitchen island.

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The report also said 911 calls from Gearhart’s residence indicated that Gearhart returned home intoxicated and “was hitting everyone in the house.”

“Our step-dad is beating our mom right now,” one 911 caller told a dispatcher at about 6:40 p.m. “Oh my gosh, I knew this was going to happen.”

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for next Friday in the Franklin court, although Gearhart could be indicted before that in Warren County Common Pleas Court in Lebanon.

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