According to an indictment from the Common Pleas Court of Meigs County, former sheriff Keith O. We have a new Sheriff now and the safety and security is the top priority for our residents and I stand behind our new sheriff and deputies. We'd love to hear eyewitness The Meigs County Sheriff's Office has released the name of the man who was killed Sunday morning in Pomeroy, Ohio. Use the 'Report' link on POMEROY The Meigs County Board of Commissioners unanimously appointed Scott Fitch as the new sheriff on Thursday during its meeting. COLUMBUS - The Meigs County Grand Jury handed down a five-count indictment Wednesday against former Meigs County Sheriff Keith Wood following allegations that he withdrew public funds for personal use, Auditor of State Keith Faber announced.. Wood faces felony counts of theft in office, telecommunications fraud, and misuse of credit cards and misdemeanor counts of misuse of credit cards and . Jeffrey E. Kirk, 53, of Hebron, Ohio, was indicted for Improperly Handing Firearms in a Motor Vehicle, a felony of the fourth degree. I can assure you that not one of the three of us wanted to make this decision as we all three feel it is a ballot issue, Will said. According to state law, a sheriff can be removed only through a legal proceeding triggered by a petition from voters or a complaint from the governor. Subscribe Now Breaking News (423)-334-5268 www.meigscountysheriff.com Meigs County Sheriff's Office As part of its investigation, the BCI assembled 164 Facebook interactions from 2015 to 2016 (including post reactions and comments). Wood had been Meigs County sheriff since 2013. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, All rights reserved. The Meigs County Sheriffs Office investigated this matter. Possible penalties for first and second degree felonies committed on or after March 22, 2019 include: felonies of the first degree- a minimum sentence of 3-11 years in prison with an indefinite maximum sentence of up to 16.5 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine; felonies of the second degree- a minimum sentence of 2-8 years in prison with an indefinite maximum sentence of up to 12 years in prison and up to a $15,000 fine. American newspaper staffs have shrunk by 57% since 2004, eroding their ability to cover their communities. Wood Address 104 East 2nd Street, Pomeroy, Ohio, 45769 Phone 740-992-3371 Meigs County Sheriff Scott Fitch says the alleged incident happened on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023 at a home along State Route 7 in Tuppers Plains, Ohio. Press Secretary. Click the link below to take you directly to the vehicles we have listed. According to a statement from the Auditor of State Keith Fabers Office, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) began its investigation of Wood in August 2022, after receiving a complaint from Meigs County Prosecutor James Stanley about the potential misuse of money from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund. The Meigs County Sheriffs Office 3rd annual toy drive is now underway. Since Sheriff Jackie Melton took office in 2010 and started the toy drive, with the generous help of the county, approximately 350 children in Meigs County have been able to have a Merry Christmas and our goal this year is to see that number continue to grow. MCSO's social media is maintained and updated daily, but not monitored for emergencies. It said they are committed to serving the citizens with the highest level of service and that they will continue to make Meigs County safer and a great place to live. The BCI discovered that Fitch had included this misleading information on his application during the course of an internal investigation. The primary goal of the Meigs County Sheriff's Office is to protect and to serve its citizens. The county of Meigs had 965 arrests during the past three years. Marty R. Tolliver, 34, of Coolville, Ohio, was indicted for Possession of Drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. Of the candidates, they chose Scott Fitch to serve out the rest of Woods term as sheriff. Meigs County is located in southeastern Ohio. Submit it here. According to a news release from the Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Wood stated it was not an easy decision to make, but he made the decision based on his health and family as a top priority. Southeast Ohio Independent News is registered with the state as a nonprofit corporation, and we are fiscally sponsored by the Athens County Foundation. racist or sexually-oriented language. Wood resigned as Meigs County Sheriff on November 11, 2022. Hannah Nakao, 30, of Belpre, Ohio, was indicted for Possession of Drugs (Methamphetamine), a felony of the fifth degree. The Meigs County Sheriffs Office has listed 6seized vehicles on GOVDEALS.COM. Welcome to the Meigs County Sheriff's Office Website. Erica Large, 31, of Pomeroy, Ohio, was indicted for Possession of Drugs (Cocaine), a felony of the fifth degree, and Possession of Drugs (Fentanyl), also a felony of the fifth degree. Meigs also processed 295 arrests for property crimes during the same year. The Auditors Office has been given full access to all financial and other documents pertaining to their investigation, as well as making all employees accessible for making statements, Fitch stated. Don't Threaten. The Supreme Court of Ohio issued an order assigning retired Judge Scott Nusbaum to the case. Applications must be picked up and turned in at the Meigs County Sheriffs Office beginning November 15, 2015 with application deadline being December 11, 2015. Wood will be arraigned on the charges, but no time has been set yet according to court records. With the help of the citizens of Meigs County this program has become a huge success and countless number of children have something to look forward to on Christmas Day. The Meigs County Sheriffs Department is committed to protect the lives, property and rights of all people, to maintain order and to enforce the laws. POMEROY, Ohio- The grand jury met today February 8, 2023 in Meigs County Common Pleas Court, and indicted former Sheriff Keith O. The Auditor's Office has . The Meigs County Sheriffs Office reserves the right to set minimum bids on all items auctioned. According to the indictment from the Meigs County Common Pleas Court, Wood has been indicted on five counts of theft while in office, a 4th degree felony; misuse of credit cards, a 5th degree felony; misuse of credit cards, a 1st degree . No further details have been made available. Toys and games are needed for all ages from infants through teenage boys and girls as well as stocking stuffer type toys. We are committed to serving the citizens with the highest level of service and will continue to make Meigs County safer and a great place to live. Dan Tierney, press secretary for Ohio Gov. Documents from BCI also indicate that Fitch was investigated for dozens of Facebook posts which the BCI said could be construed as racist, although those actions were not mentioned in the termination letter. Fitch and the Fraternal Order of Police union representing him challenged his termination before an arbitrator. This Meigs County Tennessee Most Wanted List posts the top 50-100 fugitive criminals on the run. And theres been a sense of renewal a sense of hope for us. Nelsonville police chief accepts job as Meigs sheriff. Meigs County Sheriff's Office can be contacted at: Meigs County Sheriff's Office. Proudly created with Wix.com. Fitch has been a morale boost to Meigs County, Will said, noting that the county did not have a real active and present sheriff previously., I know our county is better off now, Will said. Meigs County, Ohio Sheriff resigns The decision came following a Meigs County Commission meeting Thursday morning. An evidence intake technician who was required to be present for the inspection told investigators that she and Fitch attempted to schedule the inspection several times unsuccessfully. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. This eventually led to Fitchs firing. Fitch also stated that he has implemented many new safeguards internally and with our financial institution partners to eliminate the likelihood of this happening again. Theodore Hoffert, 61, of New Haven, West Virginia, was indicted for Assault, a felony of the fourth degree, and Resisting Arrest, a first-degree misdemeanor. Fitch told investigators in 2019 that he had been under significant personal and professional stress immediately before falsifying the evidence inspection and that in the grand scheme of things the evidence vault audit did not mean anything.. We are one of only a few 9-1-1 centers in the state that are still attached to a Sheriff's Department/Jail. The arbitrator found that BCI had not followed the disciplinary procedures set out in the FOP union contract, and that even if proper procedures had been followed, Fitch was still able to perform the duties of a BCI special agent. Fitch said his unofficial last day as chief is Nov. 25. When former Sheriff Keith Wood announced his resignation Nov. 8 with has last day being Nov. 11, he cited health and family reasons for his departure. Please see the following emails: Meigs Middle School, Meigs High School, & Southern Local Schools, Meigs Primary School, Meigs Intermediate School. The Meigs County Sheriffs Office investigated this matter. We have had very well-qualified candidates and this has been a difficult decision, he said. Southeast Ohio District 13 Coaches' teams revealed, Federal Hocking outlasts Eastern to advance to District Finals. Wood on five . According to court documents, the Meigs County Grand Jury indicted Keith O. 2018 by Meigs County Sheriff's Office. Although Will and the other Meigs County Commissioners made the determination to hire Fitch, the commissioners have no further authority of Fitchs employment. We are totally dedicated to this mission, to the County we serve and to accept the responsibility of attaining our goal of achieving excellence within our profession. MEIGS COUNTY SHERIFFSSURPLUS AND SEIZURE AUCTION, Where: Meigs County Jail 410 River Road Decatur TN. Will said that he has not investigated the termination further and is not concerned by any of the conduct that led to Fitchs dismissal from BCI. In a separate release by the Meigs County Sheriffs Office they said they would like to ensure the citizens of Meigs County that the indictment of the former sheriff will not affect the mission, goals, or daily operations of the Sheriffs Office. The posts Fitch liked included a post referring to a Muslim person as a cockroach, posts celebrating the Confederate flag, a post about hunting Muslim people and a post celebrating the auctioned sale of the gun used to kill Trayvon Martin. Meigs County Jail & Sheriff 410 River Road Decatur, TN 37322 (423) 334-3163. Wood on charges related to his time in office. The Syracuse Police Department investigated this matter. Wood on five charges. The Athens County Independent is a publication of Southeast Ohio Independent News. These areas will be collecting any new unwrapped toys from now until December 13th. Fax: (423)334-3165. The Meigs County Sheriff's Department will strive to accomplish this mission by setting goals and objectives and practicing the values of the Department. MEIGS COUNTY, OH (WOWK) - A special judge has been chosen to preside over the court proceedings for a former sheriff accused of theft in office in Meigs County, Ohio. Muskingum County Sheriff's Department. Athens County is no exception. You can bring new, unopened toys to any of our convenient drop off locations throughout the county. POMEROY, Ohio (WVNews) Meigs County commissioners met in regular session Nov. 17, and confirmed the appointment of Scott Fitch as the new county sheriff. Fitch will continue serving as Nelsonville Police Chief for another week. or anything. KANAWHA COUNTY, WV (WOWK)- The Kanawha County Sheriff's Office is commending the actions of a deputy that saved a man's life on Tuesday after a shooting in Kanawha County. annual toy drive is now underway. Will said the commission accepted letters of interest for the job from five applicants, which included internal candidates from the sheriffs office. Meigs, TN Government 17214 TN-58, Decatur, TN 37322 Courthouse Main Line: (423 . MEIGS COUNTY, OH. However, Fitch has made several comments on posts that contradict that claim. Click the link below to take you directly to the vehicles we have listed. Applications must be picked up and turned in at the Meigs County Sheriffs Office by December 13. No toy is too big or small. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. POMEROY, Oh. While no one individual is above the law all suspects are innocent until proven guilty. This is 287.74% higher than the national average of 739.02 per 100,000 people. The incident happened on Saturday along State Route 7 in Tuppers Plains, Ohio, the Sheriff's Office says. The Meigs County Sheriffs Office investigated this matter. Fitch had served as Nelsonville police chief for nearly three years when he resigned the post in November 2022 to become Meigs County sheriff. Of the total arrests, 49 were for violent crimes such as murder, rape, and robbery. Fitch will be sworn-in by Meigs County Court of Common Pleas Judge Linda Warner at 11 a.m. Monday in the courtroom. Wood was indicted on charges stemming from his time in office for allegedly withdrawing public funds for personal use. Meigs County Sheriff | 12 followers on LinkedIn. Pay Taxes Online Advanced Real Estate Search 2 1/2% Tax Reduction Board of Revision Budget Commission Change of Tax Bill Mailing Address Conveyance Fee Ohio Estate Tax Homestead Exemption Manufactured Homes Tax Estimator Real Estate Valuation Sheriff Sales. MEIGS COUNTY, Ohio (WCHS) The former sheriff of Meigs County, Ohio was indicted by a grand jury Wednesday on charges accusing him of taking thousands of dollars that belonged to the. Served in Law Enforcement in Meigs County since 1975, Deputy Sheriff (6 years), Decatur Police Chief (29 years), Meigs County Sheriff (2010 present). Copyright News and Sentinel | https://www.newsandsentinel.com | 519 Juliana St., Parkersburg, WV 26101 | 304-485-1891. Arlie E. Malone, Jr., 37, of Rutland, Ohio, was indicted for Possession of Drugs (Methamphetamine), a felony of the fifth degree, Tampering with Evidence, a felony of the third degree, and Failure to Comply with Order or Signal of a Police Officer, a felony of the third degree. For most felonies of the fourth and fifth degrees, sentencing guidelines found in the Ohio Revised Code require first-time offenders to be sentenced to community control unless certain conditions exist permitting the imposition of a prison sentence. We equip Athens County residents to engage with their communities by monitoring power, giving voice to those marginalized from power, aggregating public information, and facilitating discussion and debate. This is a very long list and changes daily. Since Sheriff Jackie Melton took office in 2010 and started the toy drive, with the generous help of the county, approximately 750 children in Meigs County have been able to have a Merry Christmas, and our goal this year is to see that number continue to grow. We won't share it with anyone else. Published: Feb. 8, 2023 at 11:37 AM PST. Will said this is part of why he does not care about Fitchs termination, inflammatory Facebook posts or misleading credential. The Meigs County Sheriffs Department is responsible for the professional care and custody of those confined in our jail, the security of our courts and the prompt investigation of crime when it occurs. Sheriff Sales Concealed Carry Information Pay Online Welcome to the Meigs County Sheriff's Office Website Sheriff Scott Fitch Please dial 911 in the case of an emergency For non-emergency reporting, dial 740-992-3371 then press OPTION #1 to speak to a dispatcher for any reason Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. ***All items sold must be settled the day of the sale. The motion to hire Fitch was unanimously approved. Agency Nuclear Training Program and a member of the Homeland Security Task Force. Donations from the FreeFunder campaign that launched our initiative totaled more than $18,000and donations have continued, including through recurring membership gifts. Thank you! Your Name (required) Your Email . The MIP will continue to update and follow the story. Meigs County Sheriff Jackie Melton told us on the phone shortly after the storm passed that the majority of damage is in the area of Sharp Road and Highway 58, south of Decatur. Have an event you'd like to share? Mike DeWine, said the issues at play in Fitchs 2019 termination likely could not be considered grounds for removal now. Michael R. Atkinson, 41, of Coolville, Ohio, is accused of entering the residence . Over 1 million foreclosure homes for sale updated daily. Upon Officers arrival to the scene they located Johnston and took him into custody. In 2018, Sheriff Keith Wood made multiple checks out to . Please forward all questions or concerns to the Ohio Auditors Office.Sheriff Scott Fitch, Meigs County Commissioner Jimmy Will stated Im not surprised, its just a really disappointing time for our county. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Meigs County Sheriff Scott Fitch issued a special news release stating that on February 17, 2023 a tip was received as to the whereabouts of Michael Atkinson. By this time, Fitch had served as Nelsonville police chief for nearly two years. On the theft in office charge, Wood is alleged have deprived the county of $4,562 and knowingly obtained or exerted control over said property or services without the consent of Meigs County.. Decatur TN, 37322. The release said SIU confirmed that Wood used ATMs to withdraw cash from the fund at different locations in Ohio and West Virginia and that an arraignment for Wood in Meigs County Common Pleas Court will be set at a later date. To search for an inmate in the Meigs County Jail & Sheriff, find out their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits or even view their mugshot, go to the official Inmate Search Jail Roster, or call the jail at (423) 334-3163 for the information you are looking for. Be Truthful. Editors Note: All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Ohio Department of Public Safety-Liquor Control. The Meigs County Sheriffs Office investigated this matter. The Rutland Police Department investigated this matter. Nelsonville Police Department. For emergencies please contact 9-1-1. The indictment includes charges of theft in office, telecommunications fraud, misuse of credit cards and soliciting or accepting improper compensation. Founded in 1998. 104 East 2nd Street. The Meigs County Sheriffs Office investigated this matter. However, before Fitch claimed to have graduated from Rochville in 2009, the institutions fraudulent status had already led to the high-profile termination and conviction of a British police forensics investigator. Pomeroy, OH 45769. It is not clear whether the city of Nelsonville knew about Fitchs 2019 termination from the BCI when he was hired as police chief or during his tenure. Meigs County Sheriff Department Warrants Division Cathy Howard was born in Meigs County and is a graduate of Meigs County High School. Will said he did not have a copy of Fitchs resume and did not know where Fitch obtained his masters degree. Judge recuses self in case against former sheriff, Parent volunteer charged in alleged relationship with a minor, Fire destroys 5 vacant houses; man charged with arson, W.Va. Gov. The statement added that, SIU confirmed that Wood used ATMs to withdraw cash from the fund at different locations in Ohio and West Virginia.. Acceptable methods of payment will be cash, cashiers check, money order and personal checks must be accompanied with a pre-approval letter of funds from your local banking institution. MEIGS COUNTY, W.Va. (WTAP) - Former Meigs County Sheriff Keith Wood resigned in November. All documentation of Fitchs termination is available under Ohios open records laws. accounts, the history behind an article. 410 River Rd, Decatur, TN 37322. We are committed to serving the citizens with the highest level of service and will continue to make Meigs County safer and a great place to live.. These areas will be collecting any new unwrapped toys from now until December 14. . Signup today! Specifically, the letter states, Fitch lied about conducting an evidence inspection in 2016 and claimed he had a masters degree from a university that turned out to be a diploma mill.