MOUNT VERNON — Former Mid-Ohio Transit Authority Director Pamela S. Hinkens was indicted Monday by a Knox County grand jury on one count of theft in office.
Lisa Hackley, spokesperson for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, confirmed Ken Egbert Jr. is serving as special prosecutor for the case where Hinkens allegedly embezzled over $12,000 from the organization.
Hinkens was hired as the MOTA director on Feb. 14, 2005. She resigned on June 29, 2009, for personal reasons. She had been on leave for several months before submitting her resignation.
According to the Ohio Department of Transportation audit for years 2005 through 2009, acquired by the News through a public records request, the audit found “unallowable compensation to MOTA’s administrator” including a 6 percent raise that was not authorized by MOTA’s board. The audit further stated Hinkens was overpaid 40 hours of vacation when she left MOTA’s employment.
In addition, the audit included two reimbursement claims by Hinkens totaling $137 for registration to her personal vehicles and $716 in travel expenses that were originally paid by MOTA but reimbursed to her before and after a conference in Stevenson, Wash.
The case was investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.
Hinkens resigned as treasurer from the Knox County Republican Party at the end of February 2009 after discrepancies were found in the party’s financial records. On Feb. 17, 2010, Hinkens pleaded guilty to theft in office charges for taking over $10,000 from the party over a two-year period. At the time she admitted guilt, she had made restitution for $6,500 and made full restitution by the time she was sentenced in March 2010. She was sentenced to three years of community control for the fourth-degree theft in office felony.
Egbert also served as special prosecutor in the earlier case.
