Nelsonville police officer pleads innocent to criminal charges

A Nelsonville police officer charged with assaulting a 15-year-old boy has pleaded innocent and still remains on unpaid administrative leave.

Randy Secoy, 41, of Amesville, entered an innocent plea in Athens County Common Pleas Court to an indictment charging a felony count of abduction and misdemeanor charges of assault and interfering with the boy’s civil rights.

On March 6, the teen was taken into police custody after an incident at a Nelsonville restaurant. While in custody, Secoy — a part-time officer — allegedly “restrained the liberties of the juvenile by placing his hand on the juvenile’s throat/jaw area and pushing him backwards while he was seated in a chair, causing physical injuries to the juvenile,” according to County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn.

Secoy has since been placed on administrative leave, as those under indictment are prohibited from carrying a firearm. He was also relieved of his status as a reserve deputy with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.

According to Blackburn, Secoy issued his plea in writing through an attorney and did not appear in court. He is scheduled to appear in front of Judge L. Alan Goldsberry on April 14 for a bond hearing. Blackburn told The Messenger that Secoy will likely be released on his own recognizance.

In an previous interview with The Messenger, the boy’s father said, “I got a phone call saying I had to come and get my boy from the police station and when I got there, I retrieved him and my son told me a few things that had happened down there.” He added his son was arrested on an assault charge following an altercation at Mama Renie’s Pizza in Nelsonville.

This case has been investigated through joint efforts of the Nelsonville Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Athens County Prosecutor’s Office. Athens County Sheriff Patrick Kelly told The Messenger he asked his counterpart in Washington County to investigate, since Secoy had been a reserve deputy.

Secoy was also previously employed as a full-time deputy with the sheriff’s office. He was demoted in August of 2011 for what Kelly called a violation of rules and procedures with the way Secoy handled a 911 call from former county commissioner Mark Sullivan’s then-wife Tammie Sullivan concerning marijuana plants. Secoy told Tammie Sullivan to put the drugs in a grocery bag and take the plants to the sheriff’s office. (The case was taken to a grand jury but no charges were filed against Mark Sullivan.)

Prior to that incident, Secoy had another reprimand that stemmed from an incident at Trimble Elementary School that involved a 10-year-old student. Secoy was accused of pulling out a Taser and cursing at the student. Secoy was suspended for three days and required to complete a conflict resolution course.

In addition to his demotion to transport officer, Secoy also entered into a “last chance agreement.” Three months later, Secoy resigned from the sheriff’s office.