T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Louis Patrick, the former major of the Bellaire Salvation Army, pleads guilty to one count of sexual imposition in Belmont County Eastern Division Court

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Louis Patrick, the former leader of the Salvation Army in Bellaire, pleaded guilty Thursday to a single count of sexual imposition.

Patrick appeared in Belmont County Eastern Division Court to enter his plea. He had been charged in April with one count of sexual battery after the Belmont County Prosecutor’s Office received a complaint from a female worker at the Salvation Army center in Bellaire on April 7. He was charged directly through the Belmont County courts, and the Bellaire Police Department did not arrest him.

Sexual imposition is a lesser, included charge related to the sexual battery count. The guilty plea is part of a plea deal that allowed him to plead guilty to the misdemeanor charge rather than to the original felony.

Patrick’s attorney, Jacob Leach of Shaheen Law Group, began the continued arraignment on Thursday morning by saying that Patrick would be pleading guilty to one count of sexual imposition.

“Mr. Patrick, your attorney is entering a plea of guilty. Is that how you wish to proceed?” Eastern Division Judge David Trouten asked Patrick.

Patrick said he agreed with his attorney.

Patrick’s guilty plea is part of a plea deal with Eastern Division Prosecutor Joshua Norman. Patrick pleaded guilty to sexual imposition, which is a third-degree misdemeanor, in lieu of standing trial on his original sexual battery charge, which is a felony.

Following his plea, Trouten asked Patrick to sign a waiver of a jury trial and acknowledging his plea, which Patrick did.

Trouten then accepted Patrick’s guilty plea and set his sentencing for 9 a.m. June 26.

“The court’s going to want to see reports and any video or things of that nature, and the victims impact statement as well” Trouten said.

Following charges being filed against Patrick, the Salvation Army Northeast Ohio Division released a statement that said: “Major Patrick has been removed from his position pending the result of his trial. The Salvation Army is doing everything we can to support the person who made these allegations and other staff and volunteers at the Bellaire Corps Community Center who this incident may impact.”

Patrick is scheduled to be sentenced at 9 a.m. June 26 before Eastern Division Judge David Trouten. According to Ohio Revised Code, a third-degree misdemeanor is punishable by a jail term of up to 60 days.