The head of Athens County’s safety-net agency is now facing a felony charge of stealing from the public she was supposed to serve.
Jean Demosky, executive director of Athens County Job and Family Services, was arrested Friday and charged with one count of theft in office, a third-degree felony. Prosecutors say she used county staff, buildings and funding to run a nonprofit that steered goods and services to ineligible recipients, including a family member. The arrest followed audits and internal reviews that county officials say uncovered unpaid bills and alleged misuse of public resources.
The Athens County Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest in a press release, saying the investigation is still active. The probe is being handled by the prosecutor’s office in coordination with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office and the county auditor, and is supplemented by a 2025 county audit and an Ohio Department of Job and Family Services audit. Prosecutors have charged Demosky with theft in office and said additional charges are possible, according to WTAP.
Authorities allege that while running the agency, Demosky created what they describe as a "shill" nonprofit, then tapped county resources to keep it going. Staff time, office space and equipment were allegedly diverted to provide services to people who did not qualify. The unpaid bill to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is said to top $50,000, and prosecutors estimate county staffing work tied to the nonprofit cost taxpayers more than $1 million, according to WSAZ.
Demosky was arraigned in Athens County Common Pleas Court before Judge George P. McCarthy, who set bond at $500,000 with 10 percent allowed for release. If she is released, the court ordered her to surrender her passport, stay out of her work email and refrain from deleting any emails until the case is resolved, according to CW Columbus.
Agency Finances and Fallout
The criminal case hits an agency that was already under financial strain. In late 2025, county commissioners cut positions at Athens County Job and Family Services, and the agency put hiring on hold as it tried to get spending under control. Local reporting by the Athens County Independent described the department’s finances as "precarious" while county leaders and state officials picked through the books.
Legal Implications
Under Ohio’s theft in office statute, R.C. 2921.41, penalties rise with the value of the property or services involved, and courts can order restitution that includes the cost of audits. A conviction can also block someone from holding public office. The law treats theft in office as a third-degree felony when the amount is $7,500 or more and less than $150,000, with even harsher felony levels above that range. Prosecutors have said the investigation is ongoing and that additional charges may be filed. The statute is set out in the Ohio Revised Code §2921.41.
“I am grateful for the courage of the hardworking employees of Athens County Job and Family Services for coming forward and allowing the investigation to reach today's arrest,” Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said in a statement. The prosecutor’s office, working with the sheriff’s office and the county auditor, said it will keep reviewing records and that more charges remain on the table, according to CW Columbus.
For now, Demosky faces strict pretrial conditions if she posts bond, and county leaders say they are reviewing agency operations to prevent further loss. The case is set to return to Athens County Common Pleas Court as prosecutors and auditors continue to comb through records. Officials did not immediately offer additional comment beyond the prosecutor’s release, WSAZ reported.
