Superintendent charged with child rape takes plea deal

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BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio (AP) — A school superintendent charged with child rape for allegedly assaulting a young girl has accepted a plea deal as his trial was set to begin in western Ohio.

The former superintendent for Indian Lake Local Schools entered an Alford plea to a charge of gross sexual imposition on Wednesday in a Logan County courtroom in Bellefontaine. The plea by 52-two-year-old Patrick O’Donnell means he doesn’t admit to the charge but acknowledges there’s enough evidence to convict him.

O’Donnell had pleaded not guilty to charges including rape of a child younger than 13.

A court affidavit said the child alleged O’Donnell touched her inappropriately.

O’Donnell’s attorney says the plea deal was preferable to the possibility of a mandatory life sentence if he had been convicted of the rape charge.

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