MOUNT VERNON — According to Jennifer Brindisi, spokeswoman for the Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Criminal Identifications and Investigation, the investigation into Knox County Sheriff David Barber’s use of the Law Enforcement Trust Fund is “still open and active.” BCII’s Special Investigations Unit has been working on the investigation since early July.
Barber wrote two checks from the LETF during his 2004 re-election campaign to pay for campaign expenditures totalling $1,041.67. Those funds were later reimbursed.
On July 1, Paul L. Scarsella, section chief for the Special Prosecutions Division of the OAG’s Office, and Bridget Carty were named special prosecutors for the case. Once the investigation is complete, final reports will be given to Scarsella and Carty to determine if charges are to be filed.
Depending on the findings of the investigation, Barber could be facing theft in office charges.
According to the Ohio Revised Code 2931.41(A)(2), “No public official shall commit any theft offense ... when the property or service involved is owned by the state, any other state, the United States, a county, a municipal corporation, a township or any political subdivision, department, or agency of any of them, is owned by a political party, or is part of a political campaign fund.”
Generally, theft in office is a fifth-degree felony; however, if the amount is greater than $500 but less than $5,000, it kicks the charge up to a fourth-degree felony.
