Sheriff Pat Kelly
Ohio Athens county sheriff Pat Kelly An Ohio jury found Athens county sheriff Pat Kelly guilty of 18 charges, only addressing a third of the crimes he committed
Indicted late January 2014, Sheriff Pat Kelly, 64, faced 25 charges ranging from money laundering to tampering with records from 2008 through 2013. The county suspended him from office in 2013.
While the jury ditched the charges with larger implications, such as tampering with records, they held fast to Kelly’s long list of corrupt activities, finding him guilty on 8 counts of theft, perjury, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
Kelly, in his sixth year as sheriff, claims he used the stolen funds to compensate informants helping him investigate illegal drug activity.
The jury agreed sheriff Pat Kelly pocketed the cash from police vehicle sales as well as converted campaign check for his personal use. He spent the money, almost $14,000 intended to keep the department running, on meals, Ohio University polo shirts, and a retirement party.
“This is a public corruption case. This is a serious case. What we allege is a pattern, a long-standing pattern,”
One of the most corrupt sheriffs in America just got convicted
Athens County sheriff found guilty of corruption, sent immediately to jail Judge revokes bond, calling Pat Kelly a flight risk
Sheriff Kelly convicted on 18 criminal counts; sentencing set for March 20
