DEBRA TOBIN, Logan-Hocking Times
LOGAN, Ohio — Hocking County welcomes millions of visitors to the area every year with people traveling from around the globe to visit our beautiful area. However, with all of the recent negative press related to local public officials, our county’s image has changed from the most beautiful place to live and visit to the most corrupt place.
Right when we thought it couldn’t get any worse, Logan-Hocking Times has uncovered yet more disturbing news regarding local officials. Hocking County public officials have been in the news quite a bit lately and it appears it’s an unending series of lies and deceit by the people who were elected by those who trusted their instincts to vote for what they considered at the time as the “best” candidate.
The latest debacle uncovered by LHT puts the Hocking County Prosecutor’s Office back in the limelight but not in a good way. According to the public records request LHT received, the Hocking County Prosecutor’s Office is paying an employee who has taken a position in South Carolina as the Police Chief of Great Falls.
The public records request reveals that Olen Martin was hired by the Prosecutor on Dec. 19, 2022, and as of Friday, Feb. 16, is still employed by the Prosecutor’s Office, although he is in Great Falls, South Carolina, and employed as the Police Chief.
According to Travis Jenkins, a reporter for The News & Reporter, he reported on Dec. 5, 2023 — “On Monday, Great Falls Mayor Josh Brantley confirmed to the News & Reporter that the Town had hired a new police chief in Olen Martin.” This information came directly from the Great Falls local newspaper.
In another story, the News & Reporter reported on Dec. 26, 2023 — “At last week’s regular meeting of Great Falls Town Council, it was expected that new Police Chief Olen Martin would make his first report to Council. He was hired by unanimous vote of Council at a special meeting on Nov. 30, 2023.”
Minutes from the Dec. 18, 2023 Great Falls Town Council reported — “Mayor Brantley gave a report on the Police Department. They have brought in a new Police Chief, appointed Nov. 30, 2023 and started Dec. 4, 2023. He [new police chief] could not make the meeting due to scheduled court hearings in Ohio. He is doing assessments of the department and will have a full assessment report at the next meeting. Council member Rice asked how many officers do we have? Mayor stated only the one with another starting December 26, 2023. The County is handling calls. A non-emergency number has been posted on the door with the number being the Police Chief’s cellphone number. The evidence key is with Chief Martin and they are conducting a review.”
As you can see, the minutes clearly state that Martin started working as the Police Chief on Dec. 4, 2023, but as of Friday, Feb. 16, he is still listed as an employee of the Hocking County Prosecutor’s Office and getting paid by Hocking County, as well as Great Falls, South Carolina. In addition, Hocking County is not only paying his wages but also his benefits of PERS, insurance, etc.
Martin also posted on his personal Facebook page on Dec. 4, 2023, a photo of police cruisers from Great Falls, along with a post that states — “Olen Martin is in Great Falls, SC — started new job at Great Falls Police Department.”
So everyone gets the picture correctly — Hocking County is paying Hocking County Commissioner Jessica Dicken, who is suspended from her position; the County is also paying an appointed Commissioner — Michael Linton, who is temporarily filling in for Dicken while she awaits her trial; and now the County is also paying an investigator from the Prosecutor’s Office who apparently, according to the Great Falls local newspaper and the Great Falls Town Council, has been employed as the Great Falls Police Chief since Dec. 4, 2023.
How is this possible? When LHT questioned the local Auditor’s Office, it was told there has never been a resignation letter submitted so therefore, Martin has remained on the list as a current employee and continues to be paid until the office receives a letter of resignation. According to Hocking County Auditor’s Office, a letter of resignation from Martin was received on Tuesday, Feb. 20; better late than never, but nonetheless, Hocking County has continued to pay Martin a regular pay every payday.
According to the payroll worksheets submitted to the Auditor’s Office, Martin was paid $25.24 per hour, plus $80 from a grant — $2,099.20 for weeks worked from Dec. 3, 2023 to Dec. 16, 2023; from Dec. 17 to Dec. 30, he was paid $2,099.20; in January it appears he received a pay raise and earning $26.24 an hour but not paid the grant money, his pay remains at $2,099.20 for Dec. 31, 2023 to Jan. 13, 2024; from Jan. 14 to Jan. 21, he was paid $2,099.20; and from Jan. 22 to Feb. 10, he was paid $2,099.20. Hocking County has paid out $10,496 for an investigator that has been employed as the Police Chief of Great Falls, South Carolina since Dec. 4, 2023.
The question raised is how or why is Hocking County paying for an employee who lives and was hired by the Town of Great Falls, South Carolina?
Olen Martin is an investigator that is connected to the Caleb Moritz criminal case, and even if he had to travel from South Carolina to Ohio for hearings or a trial, Hocking County should NOT be still paying him — he’s employed by the Great Falls Police Department.
According to the Hocking County Auditor’s Office, Martin will also receive a payout for his vacation time accrued while working at the Prosecutor’s office. His resignation was tendered on Feb. 20, 2024.
Hocking County is being viewed by local residents and others throughout the state, and not in a good light, but one that is filled with corruption by the same departments that started the Public Anti-Corruption Initiative in 2023 to focus on allegations of misconduct and corrupt activities within Hocking County.
“The residents of Hocking County deserve public servants who act with transparency, impartiality and above all with integrity.” This is a statement from the press release announcing the Public Anti-Corruption Initiative in 2023 — the statement is very true, the residents do deserve better public servants.
To recap recent findings — according to state investigators, Commissioner Jessica Dicken allegedly made $19,084 in fraudulent purchases using the Hocking County Agricultural Society credit cards, including to help finance her 2022 campaign for Hocking County Commissioner; to pay for a rental vehicle during a family vacation to Florida; and for various other purchases. Dicken has been suspended from her position but still getting paid. She is scheduled for a pretrial in April and a jury trial in August.
Most recently Hocking County Prosecutor Ryan Black is being accused of using his power and position for sexual favors from two of his former employees. Black is being sued in federal court by Kate Ricketts and Kelsey Vanscyoc, who allege that they, along with other women in Black’s office were subjected to “demeaning, degrading, sexist and offensive comments and conduct,” which created a hostile work environment.
And now it has been discovered that the Hocking County taxpayers are footing the bill to pay an investigator who is not even working in the State of Ohio — but still getting paid by the Hocking County Prosecutor Ryan Black.
Be sure to follow Logan-Hocking Times for the latest up-to-date news on the corruption in Hocking County.
