Columbiana health commissioner pleads innocent

Columbiana health commissioner pleads innocent

LISBON — Columbiana County Health Commissioner Robert Morehead entered an innocent plea today at his arraignment in common pleas court on seven felony counts.

Morehead left the courthouse on the $20,000 recognizance bond that he had posted after his arrest earlier this month.

He and his lawyer, James Hartford, made no comment after the hearing.

Morehead is facing one count of theft in office, one count of theft, and five counts of forgery. He is accused of improperly spending health department funds between 1994 and 1998.

He faces up to seven and one-half years in prison if convicted.

James Manken, the assistant chief legal counsel for the state auditor’s office, is handling the case.

Manken was appointed as a special prosecutor because county Prosecutor Robert Herron normally represents the health department.

Judge C. Ashley Pike, who handled the arraignment, said he would ask the Ohio Supreme Court to appoint a visiting judge to hear the case.