DAYTON — Area funeral director James Qualls III has requested a hearing with the state funeral board to dispute charges of immoral conduct and misappropriation of money for funeral services, a state official said Monday.

Qualls, formerly director of the Porter-Qualls Funeral Home in Springfield, Xenia and Columbus, could face the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors in January, but a hearing has not yet been scheduled, said Jennifer Baugess, the board's administrative assistant.

The board charged Qualls, 45, in October with committing "immoral or unprofessional conduct" and accused him of "the misappropriation of any amount of money, paid by a consumer in order to fund their funeral service... ."

Nearly $2 million in debt, Porter-Qualls went into receivership, a form of bankruptcy, in November 2005.

Qualls remained with the business while the court-appointed receiver, Martin Management Services Inc. in Columbus, worked to resolve the debt and run and sell the business.

But in August a Franklin County judge ordered Qualls to stay away from the funeral homes on charges from Martin that he diverted funeral funds and hadn't returned records needed to run the business.

Qualls, who couldn't immediately be reached for comment Monday, has denied those charges.

Porter-Qualls remains open for business under new ownership and management.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7408 or agottschlich@DaytonDailyNews.com.