William “Bill” Halle’s bond was changed at a bond hearing Monday, Oct. 23, after evidence was presented alleging he repeatedly violated the no-contact order of his probation. He also was ordered to use the phone at Butler County Prison only to talk with his attorney.

Halle, 59, was jailed Wednesday, Oct. 18, after officials said he violated the no-contact condition regarding an alleged intimate affair he had with a teen girl he employed and counseled.

According to testimony and recorded phone conversations, he continued to violate the conditions while incarcerated.

A former member of the Butler Area Board of Education, Halle initially was placed on probation in June after violating a sexual violence protection order filed against him in April.

The order was followed by criminal charges filed in May, in which city police accused Halle of having intimate contact with a 17-year-old girl he employed and counseled at Net Outreach Center in Butler. The girl is now 18.

Following the testimony of four witnesses Monday, Common Pleas Judge Timothy McCune changed Halle’s unsecured bond to a cash surety bond of $100,000 with additional conditions that he can use the phone in Butler County Prison only for contact with his lawyer.

Butler City Police detective Eric Klopfer testified that he received a tip about Halle having a camper on a site at Kalyumet Campground in Clarion County. The site reportedly was assigned to the girl in the criminal case.

Klopfer said the camper was registered to Grace Youth and Family Foundation, which Halle founded in 1994. A May 1 Facebook post by the organization said it would be closed for the summer. Probation officer Chad Karenbauer testified later Monday that Halle claimed to have sold the camper.

Sandra Kaltenbach, general manager at Kalyumet, said Halle asked how to acquire a seasonal site on Sept. 6, and the site contract was signed by the girl, in person, on Sept. 12.

Kaltenbach added that she saw Halle and the girl at the campsite on separate occasions.

One condition of Halle’s parole was that he could not leave Butler County without permission and was forbidden from any contact with the girl.

He told the court that when he received information about Halle’s alleged violation, he asked about it directly when they met Oct. 18.

“(Halle) was honest, he did admit to having contact with her multiple times at the campground,” he said.

Karenbauer said Halle also disclosed contacting the girl through phone calls via a third party.

“He said he lost a lot with his (criminal) cases, the ability to make revenue, a lot of family contacts, and that the girl is his support right now,” he said.

Matthew Clayton, who is employed at Butler County Prison, testified that he listened to recorded phone calls made by Halle from jail to a friend. Two of those calls were played for the court, and they contained references to the girl.

A female voice was heard on the second call, during which Halle said “I love you,” and the female voice answered, “I love you too, Bill.”

Laura Pitchford, assistant district attorney, requested that Halle’s bond be increased, as the testimony indicated he admitted to having “physical and phone contact” with the girl.

Halle’s attorney, Thomas McKinley, appealed to have Halle placed on house arrest in the criminal case with electronic monitoring in order to avoid further violations.

“So the court’s order means nothing to Mr. Halle?” McCune answered. “Mr. Halle is above the law ... I’m almost at a loss for words with what to do with this case.”

He added that Halle has continually violated conditions placed on him by other judges as well.

“It’s obvious to the court he’s going to continue his grooming process,” he said.

McKinley’s request for a bond modification was denied by McCune.

Halle’s no-contact condition was put in place with the April order.

He was then charged with indirect criminal contempt after allegedly violating the April protection order, which prohibited him from having any contact with the girl, banned him from her home, and prohibited him from abusing, harassing, stalking or threatening the plaintiff and posting any remarks or images of her on any social media website or network.

On June 20, Halle was found guilty of indirect criminal contempt for violating the protection order after posting on his Facebook account.

Police said a post he made on May 1 resulted in the violation.

“I want to thank everyone who has tried to call, text, message, etc., with words of encouragement and support for me. However, I covet your prayers first for the young woman involved,” Halle said at the end of the post.

According to court documents, Butler County Common Pleas Judge William Robinson sentenced Halle to six months in prison for the violation, but Halle was immediately placed on parole.

Documents showed Halle was to obey the stipulations of the order while on probation.

Though the girl withdrew the sexual protection order against Halle in September, the conditions of his parole and pre-trial supervision prohibit him from any contact with the girl.