Swanton supervisor on leave, facing allegations of sexual misconduct

SWANTON - A village supervisor is currently in jail on charges stemming from alleged contact with two girls under the age of 13.

Patrick Gerity, 41, of Delta, has been charged with five counts of gross sexual imposition and is being held at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio in lieu of $1 million bond. Gerity is the waste water treatment plant supervisor for the Village of Swanton.

He was arraigned in Fulton County Eastern District Court on August 7. After waiving a preliminary hearing, the case was bound over to Fulton County Common Pleas Court. No dates have been set in the case.

It is alleged that Gerity had illegal contact with the two girls from January 2007 to July 2008, according to court records. He faces up to five years in jail and a $10,000 fine on each count if found guilty.

According to village administrator Jon Gochenour, Gerity is taking paid vacation and personal time while the case is being conducted. At the time those days run out, he will be on unpaid leave from his duties at the village.

"Council will monitor the situation and if they decide on changing his status based upon the outcome of his legal troubles, they'll decide what to do then," Gochenour said.

He said this is the first time he knows that a village employee has been facing legal issues.