Heile said Reist is out of jail on electronic monitoring after posting $10,000 bond. He will be sentenced July 29 and faces up to 36 months in prison. She said the disabled woman was an adult over the age of 21 and is no longer in the Reists’ home. She said it is “pretty hard to say” how many times he abused her.
Reist’s attorney, Rick Hyde, said his client pleaded no contest as opposed to guilty so the plea cannot be held against him in the civil lawsuit.
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“Worst-case scenario for us is 36 months, best-case scenario is probation. Hopefully we get the best-case scenario or somewhere in between,” Hyde said.
Robert Acciani of O’Connor Acciani and Levy filed the civil suit on behalf of the woman against Peter Reist, Theresa Reist and the county commissioners. It alleges he engaged in sexual activity with her and without her consent on or about March 21, 2019 through May 16, 2019.
The lawsuit says she “suffered temporary and permanent injuries; severe emotional distress; has endured great pain and suffering of both mind and body, including embarrassment, humiliation and fright and will continue to endure pain and suffering in the future and has suffered damages for the lost enjoyment of life.”
She is seeking in excess of $25,000, punitive damages, prejudgment interest and court costs.
The Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities is not a named defendant in the lawsuit but is mentioned in lawsuit because she apparently is a client, and the independent board placed her in Theresa Reist’s care.
The commissioners filed a response to the lawsuit saying the woman was “never under the care, custody or supervision” of the commissioners and the board of commissioners “is a separate and distinct legal entity from the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities and, as such, is not the appropriate party to these proceedings.”
The complaint alleged Theresa Reist “failed to monitor, supervise and otherwise prevent the sexual misconduct.” She filed a response denying the allegations and is asking for a jury trial and for the complaint to be dismissed.
Acciani could not be reached for comment.
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