Harrah, former county facilities and maintenance director, was the ringleader of thefts from the county. He was sentenced in November to a year in prison for tampering with records and evidence and theft in office.
Special Prosecutor Andrew Wilson of Clark County said there were several areas of criminal conduct on the part of Coppock, who pleaded guilty in a plea deal to tampering with evidence. Among those areas was Coppock’s falsifying of bills to the county, Wilson said.
Coppock said at sentencing that he runs a “legit business” but “let my guard down” in dealing with Harrah.
Judge Jonathan Hein of Darke County fined Coppock $1,000 and said he would send him to prison for nine months if he violated probation. Hein said Coppock could be released from jail daily to work to keep his business going.
Harrah’s charges stemmed from actions between March 2010 and June 1. The theft charge involved more than $7,500.
In addition to Harrah, Bruce Ball, former maintenance department team leader, pleaded to theft in office. He was sentenced to up to five years of probation and five days in jail involving possession of a county owned mower and blower. The items were returned.
Of four facing criminal charges in the thefts, Coppock was second in order of culpability to Harrah, with Ball’s culpability less than Coppock’s, Wilson told Hein.
The fourth defendant, Edward F. Wilson, 35, of Piqua, is participating in a Clark County diversion program. Special Prosecutor Wilson said Edward Wilson signed an admission statement to tampering with evidence and is serving one year of probation. If he completes that year successfully, the charge will be dismissed.
Special Prosecutor Wilson said Harrah called Edward Wilson to help remove stolen county property from his house, property Edward Wilson subsequently turned over to the sheriff’s department on his own. “He was trying to help a buddy out,” the special prosecutor said.
Special Prosecutor Wilson was appointed to prosecute the cases and Hein was appointed judge because of local officials’ personal relationships with Harrah, a former Troy councilman and active Republican party member.
In addition to Ball and Harrah, three other maintenance department employees were suspended May 29 by the county commissioners as the investigation unfolded. Two of the employees resigned, while the third was reinstated after being cleared in the criminal probe.
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