Stout pleads not guilty to sexual battery
Merlin D. Stout, 60, Florence police chief, pled not guilty Tuesday in Marion District Court to two misdemeanor charges of sexual battery.
Represented by attorney Craig Shultz, Stout requested a jury trial. The trial is set for 8:30 a.m. June 22. Jury selection will begin June 14 with pre-trial slated for 3 p.m. May 17.
Stout is required to appear at the trial.
The charges stemmed from a report of Stout inappropriately touching a woman at a local restaurant. Stout was arrested in February and released on a $1,500 bond.
Hired Oct. 6, 2003, by the Florence City Council, Stout was suspended by the council beginning Feb. 14. Stout received pay for an eight-day period, followed by an indefinite leave without pay.
