By Barrett J. Brunsman
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BATAVIA TOWNSHOP, Ohio — A Cincinnati police sergeant avoided being locked up on a charge of public indecency because the Clermont County Jail is full of more serious offenders, a judge said.
Instead, Sgt. Robert W. McDonough III, who had faced up to 30 days in jail for exposing himself to several employees of a Sears store near here, will be allowed to perform eight days of community service.
“If I give you jail time, they’re going to turn you away,” Judge Ken Zuk of Municipal Court said. “They don’t have any room. I think you deserved a little jail time, but it’s an exercise in futility.”
Two of McDonough’s three victims had urged that he be jailed, and the judge ordered that the sergeant have no contact with the women.
McDonough also was ordered to stay out of all Sears stores while on reporting probation for two years. The judge fined him the maximum allowed, $250.
Surveillance video showed McDonough exposing himself May 3. He was tracked through a purchase he made at the store. McDonough turned himself in after being contacted by township police.
Cincinnati suspended McDonough’s police powers June 8. Since then, he has been on desk duty in the Patrol Bureau’s administrative office.
McDonough was hired July 12, 1998. As a sergeant, his annual salary is $73,647, a police spokesperson said.
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