Accused child molester free on OR bond
Victim's mother angry with decision
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

A local woman is outraged after the man accused of molesting her daughter was released from the Ripley County Jail on his own recognizance, meaning he didn't even have to pay a fee.

The woman, who is not named due to the nature of the case, told Channel 12 News that she was close to William R. Cole, 52, and looked upon him as a "father figure" until the day he crossed the line and allegedly molested her six-year-old.

According to Ripley Publishing Co. files, William R. Cole, 52, of Batesville, was arrested February 23, and charged with two counts of Child Molesting, Class C felonies. Two separate charges were filed after it was determined that a small child had been molested by the suspect at two different locations in Ripley County, according to Prosecutor Ric Hertel. Hertel noted that the victim under went a physical examination and evaluation at the Mayerson Clinic at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati.

Initially, a bond of $75,000 was set for the child molestation charge.

After Cole experienced medical problems while being incarcerated at the Ripley County Jail, he was transported to Margaret Mary Community Hospital in Batesville about noon on March 7, according to Ripley County Sheriff Bill Davison. There he was guarded 24 hours a day by a jail officer from the sheriff's department.

Cole's attorney, Amy Streator, filed a petition to have the defendant released on his own recognizance and Pro Tem Judge Larry Eaton signed the order. He was released about noon on March 10, according to the sheriff. Cole remains hospitalized.

Prosecutor Hertel said he will be filing a petition to revoke the order, hoping to have Cole back in custody.

Cole is awaiting trial on a separate unrelated charge. He was arrested by Batesville Police in September of 2004, and charged with Possession of Cocaine and other drugs within 1,000 feet of school property. He posted a $10,000 bond on that matter.