Former Highland County sheriff's deputy pleads not guilty to reckless homicide
Jonathan Dustin Malone, left, and attorney Joshua Engel are pictured during a hearing in Highland County Common Pleas Court Thursday. (HCP Photo/Caitlin Forsha)
A former Highland County deputy sheriff (who's been on paid leave) appeared in Highland County Common Pleas Court Thursday afternoon and pleaded not guilty to a bill of information charging him with reckless homicide.
Special Prosecutor Anthony Pierson, Assistant Ohio Attorney General, filed the bill of information charging Jonathan Dustin Malone of Hillsboro with the third-degree felony. Malone, represented by attorney Joshua Engel, waived his right to prosecution by indictment.
The bill of information alleges that on or about July 17 and in Highland County, Malone “did recklessly cause the death of Richard Poulin, in violation of ORC 2903.041.”
A number of Highland County Sheriff’s Office employees, as well as Highland County prosecutors, local attorneys and members of the community, attended the hearing.
Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss explained Malone’s right to prosecution by indictment, after which Malone indicated that he and Engel were in agreement to waive that right. Engel also confirmed that he received a copy of the bill of information more than 24 hours in advance of the hearing.
“We enter a plea of not guilty, Your Honor,” Engel said.
Coss ordered that Malone be released on his own recognizance and be placed under pretrial supervision. He was also ordered to pay a $116 service fee within 30 days, and Malone is to have “no contact with the alleged victim’s family,” Coss said.
The next hearing in the case will be a pretrial April 25 at 1:30 p.m. via Zoom, according to the judge.
As previously reported by The Highland County Press, it was alleged that Poulin, 58, was fatally shot by a Highland County deputy sheriff on July 17, 2022.
The alleged incident began as a traffic violation stop. A subsequent pursuit ended near 5760 U.S. 62, Hillsboro, at which point the shooting allegedly occurred.
Steve Irwin, press secretary for Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, told The Highland County Press in July that Highland County Sheriff Barrera requested Ohio BCI to handle the investigation.
According to Highland County Auditor Alex Butler, Malone has been compensated since July.