Saturday, February 20, 1999

Columbia Twp. trio plead guilty to thefts

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BY DAN HORN
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        After months of trying to work out a deal, three former Columbia Township officials pleaded guilty Friday to stealing township funds.

        The defendants — James Harmon, Debra Huff and Jeffrey Huff — are accused of falsifying records and making improper deals with friends and family.

        Mrs. Huff's attorney, Jack Rubenstein, said the guilty pleas are a first step toward resolving a case that resulted from a “mistake in judgment.”

        “They've been living with this investigation for two years,” he said.

        All three pleaded guilty to theft in office and tampering with records in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. They will be sentenced next month by Judge Ann Marie Tracey.

        They previously pleaded guilty to the same charges in December, but withdrew their pleas when they were unable to work out a sentencing deal.

        Attorneys on both sides said there still is no sentencing agreement.

        Mr. Harmon, the former township administrator, faces up to 3¹/₂ years in prison. His daughter, Debra, and son-in-law, Jeffrey, each face up to 3 years.

        The charges were filed in October after a Hamilton County grand jury investigation found they mishandled or stole about $210,000.

        Mr. Harmon is accused of spending public money on a $75,000 raise for himself, improper contracts for his friends and a personalized license plate for the car he bought with township funds.

        Assistant prosecutor Chris McEvilley said the offenses occurred from 1984 to 1995.

        She said Mr. Harmon also arranged for the township to pay him for unused sick and vacation time, even though he regularly took two to three months off every year.

        She said Mrs. Huff, a former township clerk, hired a relative under a false name and was authorized by her father to falsify time sheets.

        Her husband, Mr. Huff, is accused of using his position as maintenance supervisor to personally contract with residents of two subdivisions to perform work while he was employed by the township.

        Prosecutors say he used township equipment and township employees to do jobs ranging from patching potholes to installing drainage systems.

        The attorneys for Mr. and Mrs. Huff said their clients are prepared to repay the township for the full amount they are charged with stealing. They will be sentenced March 3.

        Mr. Harmon's attorney requested a March 26 sentencing date so his client will have time to determine the exact amount of restitution he may be required to pay.

       

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