spot_imgspot_img

Ex-Ohio sheriff pleads guilty to theft in office

(The Center Square) – A former southeastern Ohio county sheriff pleaded guilty to withdrawing department funds and using them for personal use, according to State Auditor Keith Faber.

Faber said former Meigs County Sheriff Keith Wood, who resigned in November, pleaded guilty to one felony count of theft in office as part of a plea deal. He was sentenced to 100 hours of community service, three years of community control and ordered to make $5,000 in restitution.

The restitution includes money that was stolen and audit costs.

A violation of the plea deal would land Wood in jail for up to 12 months. He is also barred from serving in public office, Faber said.

Wood was elected sheriff in November 2012.

A grand jury indicted Wood in February on charges of theft in office, telecommunications fraud, misuse of credit cards and soliciting or accepting improper compensation.

The theft charge included $4,562, and the indictment said he got it without the county’s consent.

The indictments come from incidents between Jan. 1, 2021, and Nov. 11, 2022.

Faber’s Special Investigations Unit began its probe of the former sheriff in August 2022 after receiving a complaint from Meigs County Prosecutor James Stanley about the potential misuse of money from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund.

Faber said the unit confirmed Wood used ATMs to withdraw cash from the fund at different locations in Ohio and West Virginia.

According to Faber, the Special Investigations Unit has assisted in 117 convictions resulting in more than $8.2 million in restitution since 2019.

The largest came in June when the former Athens Metropolitan Housing Authority director pleaded guilty to several charges in exchange for an 8-12 prison sentence. She was also ordered to repay more than $2.3 million.

DON’T MISS OUT

Be the first to know about the latest news, giveaways, events, and updates from The Black Chronicle!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

spot_imgspot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

Report: Ohio taxpayers hold a $1,600 individual burden

(The Center Square) – Ohio would need $1,600 from...

Lawsuits over New York’s congestion pricing pause to proceed

(The Center Square) — A pair of lawsuits challenging...

Report: Minnesota’s financial condition improved by $6B in 2023

(The Center Square) – Minnesota ranked 11th and was...

Whitmer to sign bills unionizing family caregivers in Michigan

(The Center Square) – Two bills awaiting Gov. Gretchen...

Louisiana officials rethinking critical infrastructure development

(The Center Square) − Louisiana's resilience program has been...

Legislation introduced to expand military leave for federal employees

(The Center Square) – Two Virginia congressmen are leading...

Virginia school board settles with teacher fired over pronoun usage

(The Center Square) – Attorneys representing a Virginia high...

More like this
Related

Report: Ohio taxpayers hold a $1,600 individual burden

(The Center Square) – Ohio would need $1,600 from...

Lawsuits over New York’s congestion pricing pause to proceed

(The Center Square) — A pair of lawsuits challenging...

Report: Minnesota’s financial condition improved by $6B in 2023

(The Center Square) – Minnesota ranked 11th and was...

Whitmer to sign bills unionizing family caregivers in Michigan

(The Center Square) – Two bills awaiting Gov. Gretchen...