A new trial has been set for a former corrections officer at the Delaware County Jail charged with sexual battery for allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with a student at the Delaware Area Career Center, where he volunteered.
Eric Jaynes, 31, pleaded not guilty to one count of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, a second-degree felony; 10 counts of sexual battery, third-degree felonies; and one count of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a fifth-degree felony.
Jaynes was released on his own recognizance and scheduled to stand trial on Oct. 9.
However, on Oct. 3, Jaynes’ attorneys, Brian G. Jones and Elizabeth E. Osorio, filed a motion asking for a continuance. The motion states the reason for the delay is “counsel negotiation and discovery of State and Defense evidence is still ongoing therefore the parties see additional time to review this evidence.”
The prosecution did not object to the delay, and the trial was continued to Dec. 4. The trial is currently scheduled to take three days.
At Jaynes’ arraignment, prosecutors alleged he engaged in sexual conduct with a student several times between January and May 2018, and traded sexually explicit videos with the juvenile. Prosecutors said they have surveillance video from the DACC that corroborates the victim’s story, and there are multiple witnesses who were aware of the relationship between Jaynes and the student.
At the arraignment, Jones said he and Jaynes intend to “vigorous fight these allegations both in a civil and criminal context.”
Jaynes was out on bond Wednesday.
Additionally, the criminal case against former DACC law enforcement instructor Mark Warner has been dismissed in Delaware County Juvenile Court.
Warner was charged with failing to report child abuse or neglect, a fourth-degree felony, and was the law enforcement instructor while Jaynes volunteered to work with law enforcement students. At a hearing in Delaware County Juvenile Court, Juvenile Court Judge David A. Hejmanowski said Warner was facing the charge for not complying with the State of Ohio’s mandatory reporting guidelines by knowing about Jaynes’ relationship with the victim, but not reporting it.
According to Delaware County Juvenile Court documents, Warner reached an agreement with prosecutors and voluntarily surrendered his teaching license in exchange for the charge being dismissed. Hejmanowski granted the motion and dismissed the charge on Sept. 21.
After Jaynes’ indictment on July 20, DACC Superintendent Mary Beth Freeman issued a statement stating they had begun the process to terminate Warner’s employment. However, Warner submitted a letter of resignation, which the school board accepted on July 26.
Jaynes had been with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office since 2013 and was placed on paid administrative leave when the investigation began in May. Jaynes was moved to unpaid leave after he was indicted and tendered his resignation in July, which the sheriff’s office accepted.
Delaware County Prosecutor Carol O’Brien said there may be more victims in the case and urged anyone with information to contact the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office.
