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LEBANON — A Warren County company thought Jason “Dakota” Manning was a military hero when he was hired as an accountant in 2008.
In a resume provided to Vision Matters, Manning, 32, of Cincinnati, claimed to be the recipient of two Purple Hearts, a Silver Star with a Cluster and a list of other military honors, according to police records.
Now authorities looking for Manning — in connection with allegations that he embezzled more than $5,000 from Vision Matters, a Warren County-based provider of services to developmentally disabled — also suspect Manning is guilty of stolen valor.
“The preliminary checks we did said he was in the military three months. He claimed he was in the military eight years,” Clearcreek Twp. Police Chief John Terrill said.
Once Manning has been prosecuted in Warren County, Terrill said he has made arrangements to forward the case to the FBI for investigation as a possible violation of the Stolen Valor Act of 2005.
“He’s not in my database at all,” said Doug Sterner, curator of the Military Times Hall of Valor, an Internet database of military honorees and prisoners of war.
Stolen Valor Act
Congress passed the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 in response to outrage over the misuse of false claims of military service. Those convicted face up to a year in prison.
The AMVETS service organization formed Report Stolen Valor.org as part of a public awareness campaign designed to help process stolen valor reports and highlight more than 60,000 legitimate heroes recognized through Sterner’s database.
The Stolen Valor Act’s future is uncertain. Federal courts in Nevada, Colorado and California are reviewing appeals claiming it violates the freedom of speech.
“This is an issue that is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court, that will be decided in the Court,” said Sterner, who also refers reported cases of stolen valor to the FBI and tracks cases in the federal court system.
So far, about 60 people have been convicted of stolen valor, Sterner said.
“Not a single stolen valor case has been lost on the merits,” he said.
However the prosecutions represent less than 1 percent of the cases “I see,” Sterner said.
While assisting FBI with the existing law, Sterner is also lobbying for a federal law calling for creation of the Military Valor Roll of Honor.
Employers, like those considering applicants like Manning, could check his claims against listings on this public roll.
“Employers have no immediate means of verifying military claims,” Sterner said, adding he hears accusations like those made against Manning “all the time.”
Manning’s military resume
The resume Manning provided Vision Matters indicates he served in the U.S. Army from 1992-2000.
“Had precise missions to combat foreign hostilities in Somalia, Haiti and Bosnia,” Manning said in the resume obtained by Clearcreek Twp. police during their investigation.
It also indicates he was an executive officer for more than a year and graduated from a variety of training schools.
“In charge of tactics, intel and communications for the Joint Special Operations Command (Southern Division),” according to the final line of the resume’s education section.
Under medals/awards/achievements, Manning listed “Two Purple Hearts, Silver Star w/Cluster, Army Distinguished Service Cross,” as well as Defense Distinguished Service and Joint Service Commendations medals and a medal for prisoners of war in Bosnia.
Sterner said there were no American prisoners of war in Bosnia and downplayed the likelihood Manning’s service was unlisted because of service in special, secret operations.
“The whole black ops things is the biggest dodge of all,” Sterner said.
Manning’s resume claims he was awarded other medals and ribbons.
“The checks with the military so far say this is not true,” Terrill said. “It doesn’t look like he has any war experience.”
Manning could not be reached for comment, but his sister-in-law, Alecka Hines, said Manning, who also worked for her, led her to believe he was a military veteran.
“I got that impression,” she said. “I don’t know if they’re true or not.”
Employer turns to police
The claims came under scrutiny after officials from Vision Matters met with Clearcreek Twp. police, beginning in February 2010.
Company officials, including founder Deirdre Dyer, failed to respond to repeated phone calls.
Founded in 2001, Vision Matters, on Old Ohio 122 in Clearcreek Twp., provides services to the developmentally disabled in Warren, Clermont, Butler, Montgomery and Pike counties, according to the company’s website.
Company officials went to police after Manning defaulted on an agreement to repay the missing money, Terrill said.
Warren County prosecutors, originally hesitant due to the payback agreement, agreed to file criminal charges against Manning after learning of the military service claims late last year, Terrill said.
“It added additional doubt about his credibility,” Terrill said.
In December, Manning was charged with felony theft in Warren County Court. From April 2008 to April 2009, he is alleged to have written nine checks to himself for $5,466.52 without owner Dyer’s permission, according to police reports.
Arrest warrants were issued Dec. 9.
A grand jury has yet to consider the case which has been stalled by problems bringing in Manning.
“We’re looking for him,” Terrill said. “We’ve got kids dying overseas. We don’t need people like him pretending to be a soldier.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2261 or lbudd@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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