News Releases

(ZANESVILLE, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that a Muskingum County Grand Jury has indicted seven former Harrison Township Emergency Medical Services board members on allegations that they operated a criminal enterprise by improperly using hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds from the nonprofit organization.
 

The seven suspects, four of whom are family members, are facing a total of 30 charges including Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity, Money Laundering, and Theft.  

“These defendants are accused of misusing money that should have been spent for emergency services,” said Attorney General DeWine. “My office is committed to ensuring that charitable funds are used as intended, and we will fight to recover the money that was misspent.”

Investigators with the Ohio Attorney General's Office believe that these individuals misspent nearly $500,000 from 2008 to 2012. Brian Hatfield, who was the chief of the Harrison Township EMS during this time, is accused of selling the ambulances, the EMS building, and the building’s contents, and using the money for purposes not related to the nonprofit organization.

The other individuals, including Hatfield’s mother, father, and sister, all served on the board of the Harrison Township EMS at some time between 2008 and 2012.

The charges include:

Brian T. Hatfield, 39 of Philo – 6 counts

Beverly A. Hatfield, 57 of Philo – 5 counts

Robert D. Hatfield, 61 of Philo – 5 counts

Heather N. Price, 36 of Philo – 5 counts

Richard L. Bennett, 49 of Duncan Falls – 3 counts

Mary E. Randals, 56 of Philo – 3 counts

Terry D. Randals, 49 of Philo – 3 counts

The case was investigated by the Attorney General's Charitable Law Section. Muskingum County Prosecuting Attorney D. Michael Haddox is prosecuting the case and has appointed an attorney from the Charitable Law Section as an assistant prosecutor in the case.

Harrison Township EMS is not a political subdivision of the township.