By John Jarvis, The Marion Star Reporter

Photo istock/Kuzma

Mount Gilead, Ohio — The former 9-1-1 coordinator for Morrow County faces a four-count indictment filed Tuesday in Morrow County Common Pleas Court.

Rick L. Weaver, of Mount Gilead, has been indicted on one count of theft in office, a third-degree felony; having an unlawful interest in a public contract, a fourth-degree felony; complicity to grand theft, a fourth-degree felony; and theft, a fifth-degree felony.

Weaver was 9-1-1 coordinator from Oct. 30, 2004, through March 25, 2008. During that time, he is accused of “recklessly using his office in aid of committing either” complicity to grand theft or unlawful interest in a public contract. The property or services involved belongs to the Morrow County Firefighters and Squadsmen’s Association and is worth at least $5,000, but not more than $100,000.

The count of having an unlawful interest in a public contract stems from Weaver allegedly receiving commissions of $5,002 while affiliated with a vendor, Gordon Flesch Co. Inc., an office equipment provider, the indictment states.

A female answering the phone at Weaver’s residence said Weaver declined to comment.

Weaver pleaded not guilty Wednesday. Judge Howard Hall will ask the Ohio Supreme Court to assign another judge to hear the case, Morrow County Prosecutor Charles Howland said. Richland County Assistant Prosecutor Gary Bishop and Ohio Assistant Attorney General Ken Egbert Jr. are serving as special prosecutors.

Earl Desmond, a Mount Gilead attorney representing Weaver, said his client bought some office equipment for the association “at the request of the fire chiefs” in the association.

“He purchased materials requested … by them, for them and got them the lowest rate,” Desmond said. “That certainly doesn’t rise to the level of criminal conduct.”

The complicity count arises as a result of allegations that Weaver aided Robert A. Moore in committing grand theft of $5,000 to $100,000 from the Firefighters and Squadsmen’s Association. Moore pleaded not guilty to one count of fourth-degree felony grand theft on Oct. 7 in Richland County Common Pleas Court.

Desmond questioned claims his client was in conspiracy to steal money from the association.

“Mr. Rick Weaver prosecuted Robert Moore for stealing $17,000 from him, and yet the state says he was in conspiracy to steal money from the firemen’s association?” Desmond said, referring to a 2008 case. “That’s my question.”

The indictment claims Weaver pilfered $1,520 of money the association derived from Morrow County taxpayer funds.

Morrow County Emergency Services receives revenue from a levy for first responders and 9-1-1 services.

Howland said his office requested the special prosecutors because “we just know them all so well, so it was just one of those things we felt everybody would feel more comfortable if somebody from outside was doing it.”

About the Author
John Jarvis is a reporter for the The Marion Star. Contact him at [email protected] or 740/375-5154.

Posted with permission of the Mansfield News Journal.