Former OHSAA referee accused of rape pleads not guilty

ajc.com

A Troy man and former Ohio High School Athletic Association referee pleaded not guilty Tuesday to felony indictments for rape and tampering with evidence in a Miami County court.

Henry A. Lucas, 54, was released on his own recognizance in county Common Pleas Court by Judge Stacy Wall.

Lucas was indicted on the same charges in 2017 but they were dismissed Sept. 21 by county prosecutors who said "unseen technical issues" had arisen during the prosecution. A trial in the case was scheduled to begin Sept. 25.

Lucas was indicted again in late January on first-degree felony rape and a third-degree felony tampering with evidence, according to the indictment.

He is accused of sexual contact with a teen between March 11 and March, 15, 2017, in Troy and knowingly attempting to mislead an investigation between March 11 and June 15, 2017.

Lucas was a long-time official/referee for the OHSAA. His license was suspended following his indictment in 2017.

In court Tuesday, Lucas and attorney Kevin Darnell said he was a lifetime Troy resident and is employed full time.

Darnell said Lucas was free on bail for months following the first indictment and no problems were experienced.

Lucas "has no interest in going any place," he said.

Janna Parker, an assistant county prosecutor, citing "unique circumstances of the case," agreed Lucas posed no problems while previously on bail.

She asked that Lucas be ordered to have no contact with the victim or her family and to report to the pretrial services officer regularly.

Wall ordered Lucas to report weekly. A pretrial hearing was scheduled Wednesday, Feb. 13.

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