December 22, 2025

LAWRENCE — A decision has not been made whether to retry a 28-year-old Ottawa man  in connection with child-sex charges involving a four-year-old girl.  A Franklin County jury acquitted Eric Scrutchfield of rape and lewd and lascivious behavior.   The jury wasn’t able to agree on a verdict on charges of aggravated indecent liberties and criminal sodomy but most jurors had voted to acquit Scrutchfield.  Because Scrutchfield was a former Franklin County employee, the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office served as a special prosecutor.  A spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s office said no decision has been made for a retrial.

Updated 3/14/13 @ 11:05 pm

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