(MANSFIELD, Ohio) – Attorney General Mike DeWine and Richland County Prosecutor James J. Mayer Jr. today announced indictments against individuals involved in three separate incidents involving the abuse of charitable resources and fraud. Also contributing to the development of these cases were the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Mansfield Police Department, Lexington Police Department, and the local developmental disabilities board.
“When someone abuses the public trust, there must be consequences,” said Attorney General DeWine. “We hope these indictments indicate how seriously we regard these kinds of activities in Ohio.”
Indictments were issued against the following:
- Bretley Rogers was indicted for two counts of theft involving the misuse of funds belonging to the Lexington Football League, a youth sports organization.
- Donna Payne was indicted for fraudulent solicitation activities connected with attempts to raise funds for firefighter Joe Tadijanac, who lost his legs during an accident at a fire in 2012.
- Alverta Williams (38 theft counts), Mary Davis (16 theft counts), Arthur Davis (four theft counts), and Clarence Jacocks (one theft count) were indicted in connection with the theft of assets that belonged to the residents of the Mary McLeod-Bethune Intervention and Enrichment Center.
Scott A. Longo, of the Attorney General’s Charitable Law Section, was appointed as a special prosecuting attorney in these cases.
Trial dates have not been finalized yet.
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Media Contacts:
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Kate Hanson: 614-466-3840