The Ohio Auditor has filed a new criminal charge against suspended Pike County Sheriff Charles S. Reader. The Columbus Dispatch was the first to report the news.
According to court documents, Reader was charged with a first degree misdemeanor count of “making false statements” by the Ethics Commission on November 6 in Franklin County Municipal Court. He pled not guilty last week.
The court documents say that Reader did not disclose personal loans he received while in office on his campaign finance form or annual financial disclosers. According to state law, elected officials are required by law to file an annual form while they are in office outlining their finances, including loans they have received.
It was those same loans that Reader is currently charged with by the State of Ohio Auditor that has partially led to his suspension.
In July, a grand jury indicted Reader on 16 charges, including borrowing money from employees and county vendors. Reader is accused of borrowing money from Foill — a county vendor — which created conflict of interest, according to the indictment.
In August, the Supreme Court of Ohio officially suspended Reader from office, pending the outcome of his March trial.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Guardian Editor, Derek Myers, was the Pike County Sheriff spokesperson until July 2019.
