MANSFIELD, Ohio–Two women from the Ocie Hill Neighborhood Center were charged with theft in office and tampering with records during the February session of the Richland County Grand Jury.
Davinette Phillips, 34, was charged with 18 counts of theft in office and nine counts of tampering with records; Sherri Jones, 47, was charged with 10 counts of theft in office and five counts of tampering with records. Jones is the director of the City of Mansfield Department of Regional Community Advancement at Ocie Hill.
“The allegation is Phillips was turning in false work timesheets and claiming to have done work she had not done and getting paid for it,” said Assistant Prosecutor Brandon Pigg. “Jones signed many of those slips, authorizing those false time reports.”
The alleged incidents occurred over a span of time beginning June 6, 2014 through the end of September 2014. Pigg explained the theft in office charge relates to city pay Phillips received based on the false reports, and the tampering with records charges relate to the filing of the false reports.
“They began to get reports Phillips was not going to where she was supposed to go as part of her job,” said Pigg. “She was supposed to go to certain schools and they began to get tips that she was not going, which was confirmed through investigation.”
Pigg noted Jones’ charges are based on her signing Phillips’ reports without verifying the work had been completed. He added the employment status of both Jones and Phillips is unknown; a call placed by Richland Source to Ocie Hill on Monday was unanswered.
Burglary and escape
A Shelby man was indicted on charged related to a burglary that eventually led to an escape from a police cruiser.
David Baugh, 25, of Shelby was indicted on charges of aggravated burglary with firearm specification and forfeiture specification, burglary with firearm specification and forfeiture specification, escape, improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation with forfeiture specification, and falsification and intimidation of attorney, witness or victim in a criminal case with firearm specification.
According to Assistant Prosecutor Emily Piros, Shelby officers were dispatched to 24 ½ Mansfield Avenue on Nov. 17, 2014 in response to shots fired. Baugh was identified as a suspect in a burglary that occurred at the address.
“The allegation is during questioning the defendant (Baugh) lied to officers,” said Piros. “Officers then made the determination to arrest the defendant, and at some point the allegation is the defendant managed to escape police custody after the arrest.”
Baugh escaped the custody of Sgt. John Magers after he had been placed in Magers’ police cruiser. According to Chief Charlie Roub, Magers is still employed with the Shelby Police Department but has since been reduced in ranks. Seven police officers are set to test for the open sergeant position on March 6.
Pigg noted Baugh was also charged with intimidation after making a threatening comment to the witness of the crime. The victim was assaulted in the residence but was not injured by the shots fired; the shots were fired into a wall.
Vehicular assault/child endangerment
A Mansfield man was indicted on charges of vehicular assault and child endangerment after a car accident injured his son.
Michael Blauser, 38, was charged with aggravated vehicular assault, vehicular assault, two counts of endangering children, and three counts of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The charges stem from an auto accident on Laver Road on Aug. 27, 2014.
According to Pigg, Blauser’s four-year-old son was in the vehicle with him at the time of the accident.
“The child was not in any type of restraint,” said Pigg. “The child suffered severe abdominal and head injuries and was taken to Akron Childrens Hospital by MedFlight.”
Pigg stated the allegation is Blauser was ultimately found to be driving under the influence at the time of the accident.
