The anonymous complaint that sparked an investigation into Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader, who for two years oversaw the investigation of the brutal Rhoden family murders, alleges that he stole money confiscated from drug busts to fuel a gambling addiction, allowed his daughter to drive impounded cars and created an atmosphere of terror within the sheriff’s office.

“Reader just does whatever he wants and no one ever calls him on it,” the complainant wrote to the office of Ohio state auditor Dave Yost, adding later: “We are scared to death of him. He is unstable and threatens people.”

Reader said he had hired Chillicothe attorney James Boulger but declined to otherwise comment on the case Dec. 14, when Pike County Prosecutor Rob Junk filed court documents requesting the appointment of a special prosecutor from the state auditor’s office.

In a text message to I-Team reporter Hillary Lake on Monday, he said he had not seen the complaint and again declined to comment. Reader's attorney, Jim Boulger told the I-Team he believes the issue "could be cleared up pretty quickly."

A Pike County judge signed off on the appointment of special prosecutor Robert F. Smith the same day the request was filed.

Pike County Commissioner Tony Montgomery, who said Junk informed him Dec. 14 there were search warrants and subpoenas issued for the sheriff’s office, was unenthused to see another potential news item emerge from his small, rural county.

“This is the last thing we need with the Rhoden murders and trials,” he said. “Another reason to be in the news.”

The complaint reads in full: