(ZANESVILLE, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that the former chief of the Harrison Township Emergency Medical Services has been sentenced to prison for misspending hundreds of thousands of dollars of the nonprofit’s money during his tenure as chief.
Brian T. Hatfield, chief of the Harrison Township EMS from 2008 to 2012, was sentenced today to six and a half years in prison and ordered to pay $345,000 in restitution on charges of theft and money laundering.
His family members, who spent time on the EMS board, also were sentenced today for their roles in the scheme.
His mother, Beverly A. Hatfield, was sentenced to three years of community control, 60 days in jail, 50 hours of community service, and $6,512.43 in restitution. His father, Robert D. Hatfield, was sentenced to three years of community control, 30 days in jail, 50 hours of community service, and $4,786.40 in restitution. His sister, Heather N. Price, was sentenced to three years of community control, 30 days in jail, 50 hours of community service, and $4,287.85 in restitution.
Two other former board members were sentenced last month. Richard L. Bennett was sentenced to three years of community control, 60 days in jail, 50 hours of public service, and $5,125 in restitution. Terry D. Randles was sentenced to three years of community control, 30 days in jail, 50 hours of public service, and $1,800 in restitution.
A seventh defendant, Mary E. Randles, will be sentenced on Dec. 1, 2014.
“These individuals took what had been a well-run organization and stole from it until there was practically nothing left,” said Attorney General DeWine. “Individuals who defraud charities for their own benefit deserve to face the consequences of their actions.”
Investigators with the Ohio Attorney General's Office found that these individuals misspent hundreds of thousands of dollars from 2008 to 2012. Brian Hatfield was accused of selling the ambulances, the EMS building, and the building’s contents, and using the money for personal purposes, such as buying a new car, big-screen TVs, and computers.
The case was investigated by the Attorney General's Charitable Law Section. Muskingum County Prosecuting Attorney D. Michael Haddox prosecuted the case and an attorney from the Charitable Law Section served as an assistant prosecutor.
Harrison Township EMS was not a political subdivision of the township. Any restitution collected will be distributed to the Harrison Township Fire Department in Philo, Ohio, which is separate from the Harrison Township EMS.
Individuals who suspect charitable fraud should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or 800-282-0515.
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