ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio (AP) — A former college professor who authorities say fled the country after being indicted on child sex charges has entered pleas in an Ohio court.
WTOV-TV (http://bit.ly/RuszA6 ) reports that 63-year-old Richard Rushton entered what's known as Alford pleas — akin to no-contest pleas — to two counts of sexual battery Monday. Rushton is former chairman of the education department at Bethany College, northeast of Wheeling, W. Va.
Authorities say he fled the country and lived in Italy after the grand jury indictment in 2010. He was arraigned in November 2011 after leaving the country, and was returned recently with the help of the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Rushton could face up to 16 years in prison when he's sentenced Nov. 19.
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Information from: WTOV-TV, http://www.wtov9.com
