In a case that highlights the ever-present need for stringent oversight of public funds, Lynn Marlatt, a former fiscal officer for the Village of New Concord, has entered a guilty plea to theft charges totaling more than $450,000 of the Villagers' money. According to a report shared by the Auditor of State's Office, on Monday, Marlatt pleaded guilty in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court to three felony counts: theft in office, telecommunications fraud, and tampering with records.
The malfeasance came to light after a local bank flagged suspicious activity in a seldom-used village account leading the Auditor of State's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) to uncover a sordid trail of financial misappropriation by Marlatt over multiple years, she was found to have made unauthorized check and debit withdrawals and even went as far as to manipulate vendor invoices and village checks to mask her embezzlement activities. Marlatt, who lost her job in 2023, agreed to make restitution as part of her plea deal, although the sum and terms of such repayment have not yet been disclosed to the public.
The investigation spearheaded by the SIU has been fruitful in holding corrupt public officials to account, in an effort to safeguard taxpayer dollars and maintain integrity within the public sector—the unit has been instrumental in achieving 150 convictions and ordered restitution of up to $16 million since January 2019. Concerned citizens are urged to report any suspected fraud through the unit's website or via their toll-free hotline at 866-FRAUD-OH (866-372-8364).
The state auditor's office, led by Auditor Keith Faber, oversees the audits of over 5,900 state and local government entities in Ohio, in addition to providing financial services to local governments and dedicating resources to the prevention of fraud. Fostering transparency is essential to holding public servants accountable while reinforcing the public's confidence in their government's handling of funds. For more information on the Auditor of State’s work or to view the map of SIU Convictions since January 2019, interested parties can visit ohioauditor.gov.
