COLUMBUS Former turnpike worker is guilty of theft in office

He sought reimbursement for gas for times he was driving a car provided by the turnpike commission, according to the state inspector general.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- A former Ohio Turnpike Commission lobbyist who investigators said spent more than 150 work days dealing with business from the Ohio Police and Fire Pension board on which he sat has pleaded guilty to criminal charges.
Patrick J. Patton has pleaded guilty to felony theft in office and tampering with records charges in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, court records show. Sentencing is set for Dec. 6.
Patton, who retired from the turnpike commission and resigned from the police and fire pension fund board, is free on a $20,000 recognizance bond until then, court records show.
According to court records, prosecutors say Patton, the turnpike commission's former $83,514-a-year legislative liaison, used his position to commit the theft from Sept. 11, 1997, to April 25, 2002.
Patton is also accused of fraudulently trying to alter records between Jan. 1, 2001 and April 1, 2002.
The court record didn't elaborate on the offenses, but Patton had been mentioned by State Inspector General Thomas P. Charles in a highly critical report of the Ohio Turnpike Commission released in August.
The Ohio Turnpike Commission oversees the turnpike system.
Results of investigation
According to state investigators, Patton spent a total of 155 working days over a 40-month period dealing with pension fund business while on the turnpike's time.
Patton also collected gas reimbursements from the Ohio Police & amp; Fire Pension Fund while at the same time driving his assigned Turnpike car and using gas purchased by the Turnpike, the state inspector general said in his report.
Trustees of the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund Board are not paid but are eligible for expense reimbursements.
The Pension Fund board generally meets two days each month at its Columbus headquarters.
The state inspector general said from January 1999 on, Patton served on the pension fund board's Health Care, Investments, Budget-Audit, Personnel and Finance committees.
State investigators reviewed Patton's expense reports from Jan. 1, 1999, on and revealed that Patton was working on OP & amp;F business on many weekdays from 1999 through April 30, 2002, state documents show.
Missed 222 days
During the 40-month period reviewed by state investigators, payroll records indicated Patton was away from OTC work on 222 working days. On 75 of the 222 working days, Patton was traveling outside the state at Pension Fund expense, state investigators say.
Patton did use accrued vacation for 67 of the 75 days, state investigators said.
During the remaining 155 working days Patton was conducting OP & amp;F business, he was being paid by the turnpike commission, the state inspector general said.
Patton, who according to court records pleaded guilty late last month, couldn't be reached to comment Monday.
Overall, the inspector general's report identified more than 170 instances over three years in which at least 30 Ohio Turnpike Commission officials and employees accepted gratuities and meals from 18 different vendors doing business with the commission.