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Hyde arrested on new sex-abuse charges

Just as he was scheduled to be released yesterday from the Carroll County Detention Center, former Carroll County schools Superintendent William H. Hyde was ordered held without bond on additional sexual abuse charges in a related Virginia case.

Virginia authorities issued arrest warrants yesterday morning as Hyde was scheduled to be released after serving less than 12 months of an 18-month term for raping and sexually abusing an elementary school-age girl from Westminster.

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Virginia prosecutors said they will try the 63-year-old career educator on two felony counts of aggravated sexual battery. The same girl whom Hyde was convicted of raping and sexually abusing in Carroll County in the summer of 2002 has also alleged that he abused her during a trip to Williamsburg, Va., in July 2002.

In Virginia, an aggravated sexual battery conviction carries a sentence of one to 20 years.

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Hyde is scheduled to appear before a Carroll District Court judge at 11 am. today for a bail review hearing, where extradition proceedings also will be initiated.

If Hyde chooses to waive extradition to Virginia, authorities there have 10 days to pick him up.

If he chooses to fight extradition, he could ask to be released on an appeal bond. If the District Court judge approves it, Hyde could remain free until an extradition ruling is made, officials said.

In January 2004, Carroll Circuit Court Judge Luke K. Burns Jr. sentenced Hyde to serve 18 months of a 15-year prison term. Burns also gave Hyde five years of probation and ordered him to pay $4,455.60 in restitution and to cover the cost of future therapy for the girl.

The morning of Hyde's sentencing, Virginia authorities filed arrest warrants in connection with the alleged sexual abuse in York County.

Hyde left the Carroll school system more than four years ago while he was being investigated in connection with school district mismanagement.

Hyde was charged in August 2002 with raping and sexually abusing the girl at her family's home during a 2 1/2 -week visit to Carroll County two months earlier.

The Sun is not disclosing many details of the case to protect the girl's identity.


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