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Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader has been indicted on multiple charges following allegations of theft in office, made by an anonymous source last November.
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According to the Auditor of State's Office, the Pike County Grand Jury on Friday issued indictments on 16 counts which include charges of theft in office, theft, tampering with evidence, and conflicts of interest.
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In an anonymous complaint made to the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office in November of last year, the sheriff had been accused of stealing money obtained during drug seizures, and using the money to fund a gambling habit.
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A special prosecutor was requested to handle Reader’s case, with the investigation conducted by the State Auditor’s Special Investigations Unit.
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The result of that investigation has led to indictments against the sheriff on the following charges:
- Seven counts of first-degree misdemeanor conflict of interest
- Three fourth-degree felony charges of theft in office
- One fifth-degree felony charge of theft in office
- Two third-degree felony counts of tampering with evidence
- One fifth-degree felony count of securing writing by deception
- One first-degree felony count of theft
- One fifth-degree felony count of theft
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The Pike County Sheriff's Office issued the following statement on Friday afternoon.
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"Sheriff Reader and his staff have no comment on the events which were reported by the media earlier today, but would like to ensure the public that the office will continue to provide their normal law enforcement services to the public without interruption."