Former drug task force commander sentenced

PORT CLINTON — The former commander of the Ottawa County Drug Task Force was sentenced this week. Carl Rider, 55, previously pleaded guilty to attempted unlawful weapon transaction, theft in office and falsification. Visting Judge Janet Burnside sentenced him in the Ottawa County Common Pleas Court to one year of probation. "He additionally was given a $1,000 fine and is required to pay court costs," said Steve Irwin, a spokesman for the Ohio Attorney General's Office. "The sentence also includes 200 hours of community service." Case background Ottawa County prosecutor James VanEerten, who has oversight of the task force, asked the attorney general's office to investigate allegations made in an anonymous letter sent to Port Clinton's police chief. The letter accused Rider of driving to a gun shop on the county's time to purchase a firearm for an out-state-relative, but Rider claimed the gun was for his personal use on the purchase forms. Margaret Tomaro, the special prosecutor with the state, worked out a plea agreement with Rider, who agreed to plead guilty to amended charges, pay restitution and forfeit his Ohio Peace Officer Training Certificate. Linked cases The investigation also uncovered false statements former task force agent Donald St. Clair and former Ottawa County sheriff's deputy James Hanney Jr. allegedly made at a 2012 suppression hearing. St. Clair received three perjury charges, and Hanney received two perjury charges. Their jury trials were supposed to start Tuesday, but they've been delayed following the filing of a motion to join their cases by Tomaro. "The joinder motion is being considered," Irwin said. "St. Clair's attorney had a conflict, so he is in the process of procuring new representation."