VINTON COUNTY, Ohio — Former Vinton Township Fiscal Officer and Union Ridge Wildlife Center head Cy Vierstra is in jail today after being sentenced on one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, one count of theft in office, and multiple counts of tampering with records.
Vierstra was the subject of an ongoing investigation and audit after a complaint was made on July 9, 2020, by Vinton County Auditor, Cindy Waugh, when she was informed of insufficient funds in the Township’s account and found various questionable charges to Township debit and credit cards assigned to Vierstra.
According to reports, Cy Vierstra used the township debit and credit cards and issued checks on the township bank account for expenditures for his personal benefit, renovations to his residence, and a non-profit wildlife refuge he operates known as Union Ridge Wildlife Center (URWC). The investigation further uncovered evidence that CY created and uttered numerous false records, including invoices, billing slips, and other purchase and payment documents, along with falsifying copies of township trustee minutes, in an effort to disguise the true nature and purpose of various personal expenditures. Those false and fictitious records were provided by CY to the IPA as supporting documentation for certain questioned expenditures during the 2018-2019 financial audit of Vinton Township.
“While these funds may have been used to help his wildlife center, you can’t just run wild with taxpayer’s dollars,” said Auditor Faber. “These actions damaged public trust, disrespected the community, and benefited no one but himself.
The audit identified $287,565.11 in financial losses attributable to the theft. He will spend the next 5 years in prison related to theft in office charges.
“These public funds should have gone to roads, fire, and police protection, and other services taxpayers rely on, not for a twisty slide for someone’s pet primates,” said Ohio Auditor Keith Faber.
In addition to Vierstra’s criminal dealings, PETA, in November of 2022, filed a complaint against Vierstra with the Ohio Department of Agriculture. PETA claims Vierstra violated the “Ohio Dangerous Wild Animals and Restricted Snakes Act and regulations governing the import of nondomestic animals.”
PETA claims that Vierstra possessed a male chimpanzee without proper notification and a required import permit and health certificate. Vierstra was also involved in a federal Endangered Species Act lawsuit regarding the chimpanzee and according to the animal rights group, has a previous history of violating state permits and import requirements for chimpanzees.
2022 11 22 Oda Request to Investigate Cy Vierstra Redacted by Jason H. Salley Sr. on Scribd
The investigation into the Union Ridge Wildlife Center, officials said, is still ongoing.
