Warrant Alleges Ohio Capt. Forged Medical Document

Middletown fire Capt. Greg Justice, a 25-year veteran of the department, is under investigation by police for allegedly defrauding the city of nearly $3,000 in sick leave pay, according to court documents obtained exclusively by the Journal-News.

Justice, who has been on paid administrative leave since June 30, is accused of forging his doctor’s signature on medical records to extend his time on sick leave, according to an affidavit for a search warrant for the fire captain’s residence on Greenleaf Village Drive in Springboro.

Middletown police Detective Steve Winters wrote in the affidavit that Justice ““with a purpose to defraud by means of utter, or possess with purpose to utter, writing that (Justice knew) to be forged, submitted a medical record to the city of Middletown displaying a return to work date and a doctor’s signature. During the time of the submittal of the fraudulent medical records to the time of the investigation (Justice) received $2,892.395 in compensation from the city of Middletown.”

Police allege the forged medical leave documents were submitted to the city on June 14. The search warrant was signed by Warren County Common Pleas Judge James Flannery (now retired but serving as a visiting judge) and returned to the clerk of court’s office on July 1.

Taken from Justice’s residence during the search on June 30, were a laptop computer, two DVDs containing medical documents, a folder containing documents, a scanner with paper and an original document template.

Winters also applied for a search warrant on July 1, to search the computer seized from Justice’s residence looking for evidence linked to the template they allege was used for the forged medical records. Middletown Municipal Court Judge Mark W. Wall signed that search warrant. Nothing was taken from the computer, according to court documents.

Justice, of Springboro, was placed on leave June 30, according to a letter dated June 30 and signed by Middletown City Manager Doug Adkins.

“You are hereby placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately. You shall remain on such leave until you are further notified by Fire Chief Paul Lolli,” Adkins said in the letter. “You are not permitted to be on any city property that is not open to the public; this includes but is not limited to all fire stations.”

On the application for the search warrant for the computer, Winters stated Justice refused to talk with him on June 30.

City officials continue to remain tight-lipped about the case and declined comment on Wednesday. On Tuesday, city law director Les Landen confirmed there was an ongoing investigation.

Justice declined comment on Tuesday and did not return calls requesting comment on Wednesday.

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