WAVERLY, Ohio (WTVN)--Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader has been suspended from his duties as a law enforcement officer, following his indictment on criminal charges.
The Ohio Supreme Court issued the order against Reader Wednesday, with Reader not allowed to have contact with several of his deputies, since he's facing charges of theft in office and tampering with records.
Reader has accepted the suspension.
Reader is accused of taking out loans from fellow employees, and using money confiscated from criminal investigations, in order to fund a gambling addiction.
Eight of the 16 counts Reader is facing are felony charges.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber had both called for Reader to step away from his law enforcement duties while the case against him works its way through the courts.