By Lynn Hulsey , Staff Writer 
 
 DAYTON — Eric W. Deaton, a Constitution Party candidate for U.S. Senate, was indicted Tuesday, Aug. 31, for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, according to Greg Flannagan, spokesman for Montgomery County Prosecutor Mathias H. Heck Jr. 
 
 Deaton, 42, of New Lebanon is to be arraigned Sept. 14 in county common pleas court on the third-degree felony count. The indictment alleges that between March 20, 2006, and March 25, 2007, Deaton engaged in sexual conduct with a girl who was between the ages of 13 and 15, Flannagan said. Deaton faces five years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted. 
 
 “I think this is politically motivated,” said Deaton, blaming the indictment on his decision to run for political office. 
 
 “The powers that be don’t like that,” said Deaton, who said he intends to stay in the race. 
 
 Deaton is married with three children and is a Cub Scout leader, according to his website. That could not be confirmed with the Boy Scouts of America. 
 
 Deaton is running against Republican Rob Portman and Democrat Lee Fisher for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio. Also running for the seat are Socialist Party candidate Daniel H. LaBotz, independent Michael Pryce and write-in candidate Arthur T. Sullivan. 
 
 Deaton said he has Tea Party backing. His website lists endorsements from Liberty Candidates, Mansfield Tea Party and Akron Tea Party, along with a national group called Vote Family Values. 
 
 A poster pictured on his deatonforsenate.com website says he supports fiscal responsibility, balanced and centered government, honoring founding principles. The poster also says, “Return moral citizens to office.” 
 
 Deaton said he would have no further comment until a news conference this morning in the Dayton offices of his attorneys, Rion & Rion. ||||| DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - A New Lebanon man running for the U.S. Senate seat responded to allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a minor. 
 
 2 News spoke to Eric Deaton inside the offices of Rion and Rion, with his attorney, Jon Paul Rion by his side. 
 
 Deaton maintained that he did nothing wrong, despite charges filed by a Montgomery County grand jury. 
 
 Despite the nature of the charges, Deaton said he planned to stay in the race for the senate seat, being vacated by Senator George Voinovich. 
 
 Deaton was indicted on one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, on Monday. 
 
 
 
 Perry Township police said Deaton had an inappropriate relationship with a 15 year old girl between March 2006 and 2007. 
 
 
 
 Police believed he met the victim while serving as an elder at his church. Police said he would tutored her at times, and invited the teen to his home and paid her to do odd jobs. 
 
 Police said they had hotel receipts and video to prove their case. 
 
 But Deaton's attorney, Jon Paul Rion questioned the timing of indictment. It comes close to election time. Rion also said the hotel surveillance video and receipts would help prove that Deaton was innocent. 
 
 Rion said Deaton had passed a 4-hour long polygraph test. 
 
 
 
 Deaton was a member of the Constitution party. In a press conference on Tuesday morning, he said the accusations against him were lies. Deaton said he looked forward to defending himself in court. He also said he held the constitution dear to his heart, and was glad he had the rights to a due process. 
 
 If found guilty Deaton could face five years in prison, and a fine of $10,000. He is scheduled to appear in court on September 14th.
– Another day, another political sex scandal—but this one involves a minor. Ohio's Eric W. Deaton, Senate candidate for the conservative Constitution Party, was indicted Tuesday for having alleged sexual contact with a young girl, the Dayton Daily News reports. Deaton, 42, is accused of having unlawful sexual conduct with the girl, who he reportedly met at his church, while she was between the ages of 13 and 15 ... and he's calling the whole mess "politically motivated." He adds that “the powers that be don’t like” his decision to run for office, and says he'll stay in the race despite his Sept. 14 arraignment and the fact that he faces the possibility of five years in prison. According to WDTN Dayton, police say they have hotel surveillance video and receipts that prove their case ... and Deaton's lawyer says those very items (somehow) help prove that his client is innocent. Deaton, a married Cub Scout leader with three kids, says he has Tea Party endorsements.