Former deputy facing domestic violence charges free pending trial

Douglas Gearhart

Douglas Gearhart

Douglas C. Gearhart, the former Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputy facing felony and misdemeanor charges in connection with alleged assault on his wife and step-daughter, remains free while awaiting trial in Warren County.

Gearhart, 43, was permitted on Friday to remain out of jail on $35,000 bond and to remove an electronic monitor he had been wearing as a condition of his release.

Gearhart was arraigned in Warren County Common Pleas Court on charges of felonious assault, domestic violence and driving while intoxicated, according to court records.

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Orders of no contact with the alleged victims were issued as part of the conditions of his release.

He is under the supervision of pretrial services officials while awaiting trial.

Gearhart was allegedly intoxicated during a confrontation with his wife and step-daughter in February at their home in the Hunter area of Franklin Twp., Warren County.

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He previously was released from the county jail on bond, but required to submit to the electronic monitoring.

On Tuesday, during his arraignment by Magistrate Andrew Hasselbach, Gearhart was ordered to undergo random drug testing while out on bond.

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The device was removed by Hasselbach’s order, according to court records.

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Gearhart was placed on unpaid leave after the incident.

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He resigned on March 20, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer.

“We no longer have any contact with him,” Plummer said in an email.

Gearhart’s lawyer, Ed Perry, declined comment on behalf of his client.

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