CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — In a comprehensive investigation conducted by The Guardian, startling allegations of felony nepotism have emerged against the City of Chillicothe and its Mayor, Luke Feeney. The probe, based on an employee list spanning approximately 20 pages, reveals a concerning pattern of familial and political affiliations influencing hiring decisions within the municipal administration.
The investigation begins with the earliest days of Mayor Luke Feeney’s tenure in 2016, when Jeff Carman, a retired state trooper with no apparent experience in municipal service departments or direct management of day-to-day operations, was among the first hires as the service director. Carman — who previously oversaw investigations during his tenure with the state troopers — set the stage for what appears to be a pervasive trend of hiring individuals based on personal connections rather than qualifications.
The investigation brings to light the prevalence of retired troopers in key positions, highlighting the influence of Carman and questioning the qualifications of those appointed. The hirings further draws ties between the city administration and political allies, shedding light on potential political motivations behind hiring decisions.
Several retired highway patrol troopers who worked alongside Carman found positions within the city, despite lacking relevant experience in their assigned roles. The decision to forego qualifications and degrees in favor of resumes has left many questioning the rationale behind these appointments.
Terrill Barnes, the Human Resource Manager, is another retired state trooper without a formal college degree. Despite lacking experience in managing a human resource department during his time as a trooper, Barnes holds a crucial position within the city administration.
The hiring of Bill Menendez, a retired state trooper with a thirty-year service history, marked a turning point. Numerous members of Menendez’s family secured positions under Carman and Barnes, raising concerns about favoritism in the hiring process, such as his daughter and sister — who once worked for the city police department but left during an internal affairs investigation for allegedly abusing LEADs; she now works again for the city.
In 2022, Jeff Morehead, a retired state trooper, assumed the role of nuisance officer with no experience in the job, while Michael Maughmer was a retired state trooper investigator and now works as a billing supervisor in the water department. Anthony Paul, hired in 2023 as a laborer and refuse worker, had familial ties to the service department, with his father having served nearly three decades in the same department.
Paul Nick, who oversees Ohio’s Ethics Commission was not available to comment on the exact hires mentioned, but has previously said that if the positions were, indeed nepotism, that crimes may have been committed.
“Hiring their family members for public jobs; using their public positions to get public jobs (or other contracts) for family members [for example, a public official can’t ask someone else at the agency to hire the official’s family member],” Nick said. “Also included is any other person who is related to the official by blood or by marriage (e.g., uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and–n-laws) and who lives in the same household with the official.” Illegal, as well is using their public positions to get promotions, selective raises, or other job-related benefits for their family members, he added.
“Hiring a family member can be a felony offense. Having an interest in a family member’s employment can be a misdemeanor offense. If a person is hired in violation of the Ethics Law, the employment contract is void and unenforceable, and the person can be removed from employment at any time.”
The list of hires take a darker turn with the hiring of Ryan Janes on July 17, 2023. Janes, convicted of felony aggravated robbery, is related to the influential Corcoran family, known for their ties to the Chillicothe City Schools and the Ross County Democratic Party, to which Feeney belongs. Janes served four years on three counts of robbery and has a history of felony convictions, such as two years for escape and more time for forgery.
Adding to the list of controversial hires is Shabaka Ivy, a convicted felon charged and guilty of drug trafficking, employed in the labor and refuse department since the summer of 2023.
Carman’s hire, itself, had raised questions from citizens and city council members. Under Ohio law, the person who holds his job must live within the city limits, however, when Carman took the job, he lived outside of Chillicothe and still does, according to the Ross County Board of Elections. When the issue of Carman’s lack of required residency came up earlier this year, it quickly fizzled out with Feeney threatening to change Carman’s title.
The City of Chillicothe and Mayor Luke Feeney have yet to respond to the allegations, leaving the community anxious for an explanation and accountability.
