WARREN Verdict relieves auditor

The jury determined that watching water department money wasn't his job.
By DENISE DICK
and PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- David Griffing's lawyers say their client never should have been charged. "I'm just glad with the verdicts," Sam Bluedorn said moments after a jury acquitted the city auditor of two misdemeanor counts of dereliction of duty involving money missing from water department funds.
The jury, which began hearing Griffing's case Thursday, returned the verdicts late Thursday after deliberating nearly two hours.
"Dave should have never been charged in the first place, and that's what I said I from the beginning. He deserved this verdict, and I'm so glad," said Bluedorn, who represented Griffing along with Charles Ohlin.
Griffing, who was celebrating with family members, declined to comment, except to say he was very happy. Special prosecutor Robert Johnson could not be reached to comment.
Griffing's trial was conducted by visiting Judge Thomas Campbell in city council chambers because both municipal courtrooms were occupied Thursday.
Accused of failure
Johnson said during the trial that it is Griffing's duty to supervise and watch the money in the city water department. He was accused of failing to ensure that deposits from there were made in a timely manner.
Johnson also said employees of the auditor's office informed Griffing about the late deposits at the water department and he did nothing to correct the problem.
Bluedorn said there are other people within the city administration who were in a better position than Griffing to see that deposits were made on time.
Griffing wasn't the boss of the people responsible for making water department deposits, he added.
It was Griffing who called for a special audit that revealed money missing from the department. By law, deposits must be made weekly. They don't have to be made daily, Bluedorn added.
Nancy Ruggieri, deputy auditor, testified she told Griffing about a half-dozen times that water deposits weren't being made on a daily basis.
That was brought to her attention by the senior accountant who works in the auditor's office.
She said Griffing then contacted his brother, Richard, who is water department office manager.
Cashier charged
In June 2001, the state auditor's office issued a finding for recovery of $26,036 against Debra Dunewood, head cashier in the water department.
Dunewood pleaded innocent Monday to a theft-in-office charge. She was indicted last week by a Trumbull County grand jury.
The audit indicated that Dunewood sometimes delayed depositing receipts, an indication that cash was not being deposited.
That shows "a potential scheme" to divert cash and delay deposits until "sufficient subsequent receipts are accumulated to cover the amount diverted," the audit said.
Suspended
Richard Griffing, office manager, was suspended without pay for a few days on administrative charges of gross neglect of duty, dishonesty and nonfeasance regarding the missing money.
He is responsible for overseeing collections and deposits of water department revenues.
The city determined Richard Griffing did not enforce a water department policy between April 3 and May 1, 2000, that money is to be deposited within 24 hours of collection.
In April, both Griffings were charged with misdemeanor counts of dereliction of duty. The charges came after a yearlong investigation by the FBI and city police.
Last month, Judge Campbell dismissed the criminal charge against Richard Griffing. He ruled that, as office manager, he was not legally responsible for making sure money is promptly deposited.