Ogle probation officer pleads not guilty Monday
OREGON – An Ogle County probation officer pleaded not guilty Monday to nine counts of official misconduct and forgery.
Charles H. Crutcher, 41, of Polo, asked Jo Daviess County Judge Kevin Ward for a jury trial. Ward will hear the case to avoid any possible conflict of interest with an Ogle County judge.
Crutcher, a probation officer for almost 20 years, was arrested Feb. 23 and indicted April 2 on five counts of official misconduct to obtain personal advantage and four counts of forgery, all felonies.
Crutcher is on paid administrative leave and free on $3,500 bond. His attorney is Doug Floski of Byron.
Ogle County State’s Attorney John B. Roe requested a special prosecutor for the case because his office and the probation department have a close working relationship. Margaret M. O’ Connor will prosecute.
According to court documents, four times from Nov. 17, 2004 to Jan. 26, 2005, Crutcher prepared written messages on probation department stationery that gave sometimes false information about a then-19-year-old Milledgeville woman who was on probation with Ogle County.
The documents also say that, on the same dates, Crutcher forged false excuses on probation department stationery for the woman to be excused from Educators of Beauty in Sterling.
A fifth charge of official misconduct says that on Dec. 14, 2004, Crutcher used his work computer at the probation office to send personal instant messages to the woman.
