Senate Candidate Eric W. Deaton Passes Lie Detector Test
According to a criminal defense lawyer in Dayton, Ohio, Jon Paul Rion of Rion, Rion and Rion, Eric Deaton took and passed a lie detector test administered through the criminal defense lawyer's office. What does this mean for the accusations that he engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with a minor? According to his criminal defense lawyer, it means "these allegations are not true."
But does that mean the Montgomery County Prosecutor, Mathias H. Heck, Jr., has to apologize and drop the charges? Not likely. Under Ohio law, the results of lie detector tests are not admissible unless the defense and the prosecution stipulate to their admissibility. And even if they do, the trial judge has the discretion of whether to let the results of the lie detector test into evidence. State v. Souel (1978), 53 Ohio St.2d 123. Besides, "the jury is the lie detector in the courtroom." United States v. Barnard (C.A.9 1973), 490 F.2d 907, 912.
Read the article on Deaton's "not guilty" plea in Judge Connie S. Price's courtroom here.
