Two former Ohio fire officials are accused of pocketing more than $110,000 from the department they used to work for over a four-year span.
On Wednesday, a Lawrence County grand jury indicted George F. Barnett III, 52, and Kenneth D. Bench, 37, on a variety of charges stemming from the theft from the Rome Volunteer Fire Department, the Herald-Dispatch in Huntington, WV, reports. Barnett had been the department's chief, and Bench worked as an assistant chief.
Between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2018, Barnett allegedly stole $87,575.96 from the department. He faces the following charges:
- five counts of theft
- four counts of filing incomplete, false or fraudulent returns
- one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity
If convicted, Barnett could be sentenced up to 18 years in prison, the Herald-Dispatch reports.
Bench is accused of taking $25,308.22 from the department. He faces the following charges:
- four counts of felony theft
- four counts of felony filing incomplete, false or fraudulent returns
- one count of misdemeanor theft
- one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity
If convicted, Bench could face up to 17 years in prison, according to the Herald-Dispatch.
