Executive Summary
- Hunter Hickman was arrested Wednesday following a Grand Jury indictment on retaliation charges.
- Hickman was previously sentenced to 24 months of community control for voyeurism and intimidation.
- The defendant is currently held at the Crawford County Jail pending arraignment.
BUCYRUS, Ohio — Hunter Hickman, a former youth pastor previously convicted of voyeurism and intimidation, was taken into custody Wednesday morning following an indictment by a Crawford County Grand Jury on new charges of retaliation.
Hickman, 33, of Tiro, is currently being held at the Crawford County Jail. According to judicial records, the new indictment charges him with retaliation, a felony offense. While specific details regarding the nature of the alleged acts have not yet been released, they are expected to be disclosed during his upcoming arraignment.
The defendant’s legal troubles in Crawford County began last July when he was charged with voyeurism, a fifth-degree felony punishable by up to 12 months in prison. Authorities subsequently added a charge of intimidation, a third-degree felony carrying a maximum sentence of 36 months.
In March, Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold sentenced Hickman to 24 months of community control regarding the prior offenses. As a distinct condition of that sentencing, Hickman was ordered to maintain no contact with the victim involved in the case. He was represented by attorney Nicholas Fagnano during those proceedings.
Legal Ramifications
The introduction of a retaliation charge creates a complex legal scenario for a defendant already serving a sentence of community control. Under Ohio law, retaliation generally involves purposeful action taken against a public servant, party official, or witness in response to the discharge of their duties. A new felony indictment can serve as grounds for a probation violation hearing, potentially exposing the defendant to prison time suspended from the original sentencing in addition to penalties associated with the new charge. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
