Cumberland County Judge Jonathan T. Braden has denied pretrial release for Darren Hays, the former White County jailer accused of unlawful sexual contact with first-degree murder suspect Megan Valentine. The decision was made Thursday during a detention hearing. Judge Braden was appointed to preside over the case after White County Resident Judge T. Scott Webb recused himself.
Pending any successful appeal, Hays will remain in the Saline County jail in Harrisburg until his trial. He faces six counts of custodial criminal sexual misconduct with penetration and one count of official misconduct by a person of authority. All seven charges are Class-3 felonies, each carrying a maximum sentence of five years if convicted.
A preliminary hearing for Hays has been scheduled for Thursday, March 26th in White County Circuit Court.