ATHENS, Ohio — The executive director of Athens County Job and Family Services was arrested yesterday on a felony theft in office charge in connection with allegations she created a nonprofit using county resources to provide goods to ineligible recipients, including a family member.
Jean Demosky was charged with theft in office, a third-degree felony, according to Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn.
The investigation was conducted by the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office with cooperation from the Athens County Sheriff’s Office, Auditor Jill Davidson’s office, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services audit and the 2025 Athens County audit team.
The case remains under investigation, and additional charges are possible.
Prosecutors allege Demosky created a sham nonprofit using county resources, staff, buildings, equipment, and funding to provide goods to ineligible recipients, including a family member. The goods and services were not paid for in full by the nonprofit.
Demosky served as president of the nonprofit and executive director of Athens County Job and Family Services at the same time, according to prosecutors.
The outstanding bill from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for the nonprofit’s unpaid debt exceeds $50,000. The expense of county staffing doing work for the nonprofit exceeds $1 million.
“I am grateful for the courage of the hardworking employees of Athens County Job and Family Services for coming forward and allowing the investigation to reach today’s arrest,” Blackburn stated. “These allegations have put the taxpayers of Athens County on the hook for over $1 million for the fraud led at the direction of Demosky.”