BY TERRY FLYNN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BURLINGTON -- A Boone District Court clerk and her husband pleaded not guilty Wednesday at their arraignment on several charges including rape and sodomy involving an underage female.
Sandra S. Ryan of Crittenden, a court clerk since 1990, is charged with two counts of rape, and individual counts of sexual abuse and sodomy.
Her husband, James Patrick Ryan, faces more than 20 counts including rape, sodomy, criminal abuse and harassing a witness.
Boone Circuit Judge Jay Bamberger continued bond for both defendants, and also continued the orders of juvenile court that they have no contact with the alleged victim or her two younger siblings.
Boone County Police Capt. Jeff Martin said the investigation began 18 months ago when the the girl, Mrs. Ryan's daughter from a previous marriage, approached authorities with the complaint. According to the indictments, the abuse began in 1990 when the girl was under age 12 and continued for several years. Mr. Ryan is accused of trying to get the girl not to testify in January.
Investigators with the state Cabinet for Human Resources worked on the case with county police detectives Tracy Watson and Terry Osborne.
The charges initially were heard in juvenile court by Campbell County District Judge Mickey Foellger after both Boone district judges recused themselves because of Mrs. Ryan's position with the court system.
Similarly, Boone County prosecutors also asked to be recused, and the case is being tried by W. Bryan Jones, an assistant state attorney general.
