Former Deputy Facing Domestic Charge
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- Robert Roberts, 45, of Lansing, has turned himself in and faces charges of domestic violence and cruelty to animals.
Belmont County Sheriff David Lucas reported that his office received a video last week that allegedly shows Roberts assaulting a woman and a dog in Lansing. He said detectives immediately contacted Prosecutor Dan Fry's office, which began the process of obtaining a warrant for Roberts. Lucas said the warrant was issued Jan. 26. Roberts was charged with domestic violence, a misdemeanor of the first degree, and cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor of the second degree.
Lucas said deputies have been attempting to locate Roberts since that time. Roberts contacted law enforcement Monday and arranged to turn himself in. He was arrested and brought to the county jail. He is currently being held without bond while he awaits arraignment at Belmont County Northern Division Court. His court date has yet to be set.
Roberts had served as a sheriff's deputy during a prior administration, employed from 2003 to 2009. He was working at a non-law-enforcement position during the alleged incident.
Lucas added that his department does not intend to show the video or the extent of the injuries, in the interest of protecting the alleged victim, as well as to avoid the release of evidence in an ongoing case.
"We've got the video, but we're not releasing all the details," he said.
He added that there have been rumors on social media that the investigation was being delayed due to Roberts' prior position with the sheriff's office.
"It was expedited. We've been hunting for him since we got the warrant, like everybody else," Lucas said. "He was a deputy under a previous administration. Like all the other warrants we get, as soon as we obtained a warrant, it was given to our whole patrol division, and the patrol division over the whole weekend looked at residents, went and talked to people, and tried to locate Mr. Roberts."
Lucas said the warrant was extended out of state, since Roberts' job has required he work outside of Ohio.