PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — A former Pickaway County township trustee has paid court-ordered restitution after admitting he used a government-owned truck to haul township gravel to a family member’s property.
James Fox, who served as a Salt Creek Township trustee, repaid $865 total — $40 to the township for the gravel and $825 to cover audit costs incurred during the investigation. The Ohio Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit launched the probe after receiving a complaint in March 2024.
Fox was indicted in Pickaway County Common Pleas Court in June 2025 and pleaded guilty that September to a misdemeanor count of soliciting or accepting improper compensation. As part of his plea agreement, Fox resigned from his trustee position.
Beyond the restitution, Fox was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and is prohibited from holding any public employment position in Ohio for seven years.
The Auditor of State’s office released a special audit report Thursday detailing the investigation. The report includes a finding for recovery matching the restitution amount, which has since been repaid in full.
The full audit is available at ohioauditor.gov.