By Bob Strohm and Gary Ogle
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com; gogle@wbcowqel.com

A Crestline police officer who was investigated following accusations on Facebook was arraigned on Monday in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.

Mark Calicoat, who is currently on unpaid leave from the Crestline Police Department, was arraigned on three charges as indicted by the Crawford County Grand Jury. Calicoat entered not guilty pleas to bribery, a third-degree felony that carries a maximum prison sentence of 36 months, and two misdemeanors – dereliction and falsification of statements.

Calicoat was investigated by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification when allegations surfaced, first on Facebook and then from the public during a Crestline Village Council meeting, that he had solicited sexual favors in exchange for not writing a traffic citation to a female motorist.

Calicoat was originally suspended with pay during the investigation. That was later changed to without pay when the indictments were released.

Judge Sean Leuthold released Calicoat on a personal recognizance bond and banned him from carrying a firearm. However, there was contention regarding his request to carry a firearm as part of his current job as a security officer.

Calicoat’s attorney Julie Keys argued against the firearm ban claiming that in his current job as a security officer he is required to have a firearm.

The judge sided with prosecutor Brian Deckert from the Ohio Attorney General’s office on the firearm ban.

“Under Ohio law you are under firearm disability and could face another F3 if a firearm is found on you,” Leuthold said. “If you still have your service revolver it should be surrendered to Chief (Joseph) Butler. If you have any other weapons they should be given to a third party.”

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Others arraigned Monday as a result of Grand Jury indictments, along with charges and bonds, are: Joseph Lewis, F5 theft ($50,000); Theodore Britt, F5 drug possession ($100,000); Aaron Lewis, F2 drug possession, ($500,000); Anthony Lockhart, F3 tampering with evidence, ($100,000); Jeffrey Zenowicz, F3 tampering with evidence, ($100,000); Ashley Alspach, F5 drug possession and M1 permitting drug abuse ($100,000).