Morris pleaded not guilty to the crime in Clark County Municipal Court. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Springfield City Prosecutor, Marc Ross, withdrew from the case, court documents showed, and it was assigned to Dayton’s Chief Prosecutor, Stephanie Cook, and Dayton’s Assistant Prosecutor, Matthew Kortjohn. Ross cited Ohio law as the reason for assigning special prosecutors on the case in court records.
The case will also be assigned to a judge outside of Clark County.
Morris’ attorney Richard Mayhall declined to comment on the case and his other attorney, Steven Pierson, didn’t return a call for comment from the Springfield News-Sun.
A court date in the case has not yet been set, according to the Clark County Municipal Court’s clerk of courts office.
Buck Creek State Park has a reputation for being a place where men go to engage in sex acts, Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly previously told the Springfield News-Sun. The sheriff’s office has conducted sting operations in the past and made multiple arrests for public indecency, he said.
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