(ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced that the former fiscal officer for York Township (Belmont County) and its Water Authority pleaded guilty today to five felony counts involving theft in office and related charges. Dawn Lee of Powhatan Point entered into a plea agreement for multiple offenses, including two counts of theft in office, a count of tampering with records and two counts of failure to remit.
“Our team at the Auditor’s Office uncovered this misuse of public funds and our team in the Attorney General’s office secured proper consequences for these actions,” Yost said. “Public thieves are going to get public consequences.”
An audit of the York Township public funds and subsequent investigation into the potential misuse of those funds originated under Yost when he was Auditor of State. The findings of the investigation were referred to the Belmont County prosecutor who appointed a special assistant prosecuting attorney. The Special Prosecutions section of the Attorney General’s office acts, upon request, as lead prosecutors or assistant prosecutors in unique and complex cases.
The plea agreement filed today in the Belmont County Court of Common Pleas includes a requirement that restitution be paid in the amount of $105,530.34 to York Township and $18,531.87 to York Water Authority. This restitution must be paid prior to Lee’s sentencing. Additionally, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code, Lee will be forever disqualified from holding any public office, employment or position of trust in the State of Ohio.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Steve Irwin: 614-728-5417
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