A routine paperwork job in a quiet Geauga County township has turned into a criminal case, as Auburn Township administrative employee Nancy R. Dolezal was indicted this week by a Geauga County grand jury over the sale of two cemetery plots. Prosecutors say the grand jury returned one count of theft in office and two counts of tampering with records tied to missing township funds.
How the case landed before a grand jury
Geauga County Prosecutor James Flaiz announced the indictment, saying the charges followed an investigation by the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office and prosecutors into missing township money, according to Cleveland.com. The indictment accuses Dolezal of one count of theft in office, a fifth-degree felony, and two counts of tampering with records, third-degree felonies.
Township bookkeeper spotted something off
According to prosecutors, the case began when Auburn Township’s fiscal officer noticed irregularities in the sale of two cemetery plots and referred the matter for criminal review. Auburn Township meeting minutes list Daniel J. Matsko as the township’s fiscal officer and show him presenting payment listings and financial reports at trustees’ meetings, backing up his role in overseeing township funds.
Felony counts and possible prison time
Tampering with records is charged here as a third-degree felony, while theft in office is charged as a fifth-degree felony. Under Ohio law, third-degree felonies carry definite prison terms that generally range from nine to thirty-six months, and fifth-degree felonies carry terms of six to twelve months, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
What happens next in court
Dolezal is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Geauga County Common Pleas Court, Cleveland.com reported. An indictment is an accusation, not proof of guilt. Dolezal is presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors prove the charges in court, and the case will move forward through arraignment and any pretrial proceedings.
