The once-trusted gatekeeper of Nelsonville's civic finances is now facing the stark glare of criminal charges. Former Nelsonville Mayor’s Court clerk Jessica Mount has been indicted on multiple counts, including a felony charge of theft in office, the Athens County Grand Jury announced. The charges stem from an investigation initiated by a complaint in April 2023, weighing the potential mishandling of city funds.
During her tenure from November 2021 to December 2022, Mount operated in a clerical role for both the Nelsonville Police Department and the Mayor’s Court. It was here, hidden amidst the day-to-day financial exchanges, that the alleged theft occurred. According to the indictment, there were receipts signed by Mount for more than two dozen cash payments, adding up to about $5,000, which never seemed to reach city bank accounts. This fact was brought to light by the Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), as reported by Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber..
Mount, now separated from her municipal duties, is slated for arraignment on July 9, where she will respond to the theft in office charge—considered a felony—as well as misdemeanor counts of soliciting improper compensation and dereliction of duty. The SIU, known for its role in uncovering discrepancies and combating municipal fraud, has aided in convictions leading to over $13 million in restitution since 2019.
The unit’s track record speaks volumes: 139 convictions since 2019 and the processing of hundreds of tips of suspected fraud annually. The SIU relies on public vigilance and encourages anonymous tips through their website or the fraud hotline at 866-FRAUD-OH (866-372-8364). These mechanisms, as the SIU data shows, have played a pivotal role in safeguarding public coffers and ensuring that officials like Mount are held to account if and when they fall from their sworn duties.
