OTTAWA – A man scheduled to go on trial on Monday a second time for indecent liberties with a child and aggravated criminal sodomy is instead a free man. In march, a jury could not reach a verdict on the charges against Eric Scrutchfield after nearly 24 hours of deliberation. scrutchfield was scheduled to be retried starting Monday, but this past week, the special prosecutor said that the charges had been dismissed without prejudice. The victim’s family indictaded concern for the well-being and recovery of the girl, who was four-years-old at the time of the alleged incident. Scrutchfield’s attorney is now working to get his client’s arrest expunged from court records. Scrutchfield was originally arrested back in 2011 after being accused in the incident at his wife’s home daycare business.
Updated 8/17/13
