William “Bill” Halle

Former Butler school board member William “Bill” Halle has been prohibited from using social media and given limited internet use while he is waiting to face criminal charges alleging he had sexual contact with a 17-year-old girl.

Butler County Common Pleas Court Judge Timothy McCune at a bond hearing Thursday added those conditions to the $100,000 unsecured bond a district judge set for Halle, 58, while he awaits a preliminary hearing into the charges.

McCune amended Halle’s bond by allowing him to use the internet only to communicate with his attorney and the court regarding his bankruptcy case with prior permission from his probation officer, and ordered him to remove his Snapchat, Facebook and Instragram accounts “forthwith.”

Former Butler school board member William “Bill” Halle has been prohibited from using social media and given limited internet use while he is waiting to face criminal charges alleging he had sexual contact with a 17-year-old girl.

Butler County Common Pleas Court Judge Timothy McCune at a bond hearing Thursday added those conditions to the $100,000 unsecured bond a district judge set for Halle, 58, while he awaits a preliminary hearing into the charges.

McCune amended Halle’s bond by allowing him to use the internet only to communicate with his attorney and the court regarding his bankruptcy case with prior permission from his probation officer, and ordered him to remove his Snapchat, Facebook and Instragram accounts “forthwith.”

Assistant District Attorney Laura Pitchford asked that Halle’s bond be revoked and reset to $100,00 cash or surety because he used Snapchat and Facebook despite a condition of his unsecured bond that prohibited him from using the internet.

District Judge William Fullerton set the unsecured bond when Halle was arrested by Butler city police May 31.

Soon after, witnesses received notifications that Halle was using social media, according to testimony.

Chad Karenbauer, Halle’s probation officer, said he was informed by his office on June 1 and June 2 that Halle used social media, and the family of the 17-year-old girl reported that he was using Facebook.

Karenbauer said he discovered that Halle was selling an item through Facebook Marketplace’s e-commerce platform.

During a June 2 visit to Halle’s home, Karenbauer said he told him to refrain from using the internet. He said Halle told him that he thought the district judge’s bond order only prohibited him from contacting the victim.

Karenbauer said he contacted Fullerton and was told a hearing would have to be held to resolve the issue. He said he then told Halle to refrain from using the internet until the issue is resolved in court.

Later that day, he said Halle called him and asked if he could add his phone number to the Marketplace post so people could call him about the item he was selling instead of reaching him through Facebook. Karenbauer said he agreed and allowed Halle to access the site for a half-hour.

During a June 7 meeting in the probation office, Halle said he checked his Marketplace listing, Karenbauer said. He said he told him to refrain from using the internet.

Karenbauer said he can determine if Halle uses the internet, but can’t tell if he deletes anything.

A second witness, Nina Teff, who served with Halle on the school board, said she received two notifications on June 2 on her Snapchat account saying that Halle had joined the site. She said she received the notifications because Halle is among her contacts.

Halle is facing four felony charges: sexual assault by a volunteer or employee of a nonprofit, corruption of minors, criminal use of a communication facility and criminal solicitation. The charges stem from accusations he had sexual contact with the girl, who he counseled at his nonprofit Grace Youth and Family Foundation.