COLUMBIANA COUNTY Officials subpoena documents in probe

Investigators are waiting for auditors to finish before decide whether to dig deeper.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Documents are being subpoenaed in the ongoing probe of Columbiana County Health Commissioner Robert Morehead's spending.
County Prosecutor Robert Herron wouldn't provide more detail Tuesday on the type of documents being sought. No people have been subpoenaed so far, Herron said.
The subpoenas for documents are being issued for possible use by a grand jury, though it's too early to say whether information being gathered in the Morehead probe actually will be presented to such a panel, Herron added.
State audit
Right now, county sheriff's officials and the prosecutor's office are awaiting the completion of a state audit that's scrutinizing Morehead's spending. A review of information collected in the audit will determine whether an ongoing criminal probe will be continued, Herron explained.
A state auditor's spokesman was unavailable Tuesday to provide an update on the audit's status.
Auditors' work at the health department is now considered preliminary. State officials are weighing whether to intensify the inquiry by performing a special audit.
Auditors have been reviewing health department records for about three weeks at the request of Herron, who also ordered the sheriff's department to start the criminal probe.
Both of Herron's actions came in early May in response to Vindicator stories outlining questionable spending by Morehead.
The newspaper examined Morehead's use of a county-issued credit card to make personal buys, including nearly $900 in purchases at Barnes & amp; Noble Booksellers in 2003 and early this year.
Morehead also used public money to pay for more than $50 in golf accessories and about $112 in Christmas gifts.
Other expenses
Other questionable 2003 expenses charged by Morehead include a $21.39 buy from the men's section of a Pittsburgh department store and a nearly $14 charge from a souvenir shop in Daytona Beach while Morehead was vacationing.
Morehead, who no longer returns Vindicator calls, has insisted that he has repaid the personal buys.
Last year, Morehead also was paid about $335 for gasoline reimbursements in addition to the mileage payments he receives for his county business travel.
The public also paid for about $1,140 worth of meals charged by Morehead in 2003 and earlier this year at Pondi's, a Lisbon bar and restaurant owned by health board member Matt Borza.
Herron has said Morehead's actions could constitute improper use of a credit card, which can be a criminal offense.
Health board members have defended the Pondi's meals on the public tab.
They have acknowledged failure to examine Morehead's use of his county-issued credit card but say those expenses now will be scrutinized.