(PORT CLINTON, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Ottawa County Prosecuting Attorney James VanEerten, and the Ohio Ethics Commission today announced that two Village of Put-in-Bay officials have been indicted by an Ottawa County Grand Jury on public corruption charges stemming from a joint probe into public corruption allegations within the village. Misdemeanor charges were also recently filed against two other current and former village officials pursuant to this joint investigation.
Bernard Mack McCann, 82, the Put-in-Bay Mayor, was indicted on the following charges:
- Two counts of Having an Unlawful Interest in a Public Contract, felonies of the fourth degree
- Four counts of Conflict of Interest, misdemeanors of the first degree
Kelly A. Niese, 49, of Put-in-Bay, former Village of Put-in-Bay Fiscal Officer, was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Theft in Office, a felony of the third degree
- One count of Grand Theft, a felony of the fourth degree
Melinda McCann Myers, 52, of Put-in-Bay, the former President of Put-in-Bay Village Council, was recently charged with six counts of Conflict of Interest, misdemeanors of the first degree.
Bernard Michael McCann, 54, a member of Put-in-Bay Village Council, was recently charged with four counts of Conflict of Interest, misdemeanors of the first degree.
Mayor McCann is alleged to have used his position as mayor to secure waterline project contracts for a business associate.
Niese is alleged to have disbursed village funds to herself without authorization of village council.
Councilmen McCann and McCann Myers are alleged to have voted on contracts in which they had personal interest, as well as contracts in which family members had a personal interest. They are also alleged to have voted on matters that would have benefited their personal businesses and family members.
The allegations arise from a joint criminal investigation conducted by the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the Ohio Ethics Commission. The case is being prosecuted jointly by the Ottawa County Prosecutor and the Ohio Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Section.
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Media Contacts
Dan Tierney, AGO: 614-466-3840
Ottawa CO. Prosecutor's Office: 419-734-6845
Paul Nick, OEC: 614-466-7090