BELMONT COUNTY Commissioner Matthew D. Coffland was indicted by the August term of the Belmont County grand jury on one count of assaulting a peace officer. He will appear in Common Pleas Court today for arraignment.
Special Prosecutor Thomas Hampton said Coffland was indicted on Aug. 1 and is scheduled to appear in Judge Jennifer Sargus' courtroom today at 11 a.m.
"The charge is one count of assault against a peace officer - a fourth degree felony," Hampton said. He said Coffland was served a copy of the indictment. A warrant was not issued and he was not arrested. He remains free on bond, according to Hampton.
Hampton expects to continue as special prosecutor in the case and Monroe County Judge James Peters has served as visiting judge overseeing legal matters pertaining to Coffland. Wheeling Attorney Patrick Cassidy is representing Coffland.
Charges filed by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the enforcement arm for the Ohio Bureau of Liquor Control, state that on July 26, Coffland threw a full "can or bottle" containing an "unknown fluid" at a liquor control agent while at Jamboree In The Hills near Morristown. The bottle struck the agent in the head and the liquid splashed another agent, according to the citation.
Coffland was charged with assault on a peace officer and disorderly conduct while intoxicated. He posted $5,000 bond on the assault charge and $175 on the disorderly conduct charge and was released.
