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Theft-in-office trial of Columbiana health chief to begin
LISBON — Four and a half years after Columbiana County Health Commissioner Robert Morehead’s spending came under scrutiny, there are still questions — questions that may get answered whenMorehead goes on trial Dec. 9.
He is accused of using county money for private purchases.
County Auditor Nancy Milliken said Morehead recently paid $20 into the county coffers. The auditor said she doesn’t know what the payment was for, however.
Milliken said that such a repayment would normally include an explanation when a county office’s financial workers turned funds into her office.
Morehead’s spending came to light during a Vindicator series into county trips.
Morehead has continued to work as health commissioner during a series of state audits that called for thousands of dollars in findings. He makes about $89,700 a year, more than some elected officials.
In 2004, county Prosecutor Robert Herron asked for a state criminal probe. At the time, use of the health department credit card showed Morehead had made several hundred dollars in personal buys, including novels, golf accessories and Christmas gifts.
Emily Frazee, a deputy press secretary for the state auditor, has said Morehead is accused of taking between $4,000 and $5,000 and that the details would come out later.
According to the state auditor’s most recent examination of the office, Morehead bought books from Barnes & Noble Booksellers with titles that include “Golf Holes,” “Clarke’s Pocket Wine Book,” “Shut Up and Sing,” “Christmas Treasury,” “Lost Boy Lost Girl” and “Arrogance.”
The two previous audits — 1996 to 2002 and one done in 2003 — show Morehead bought Rolling Stones concert tickets and took cash advances on a county credit card.
Morehead has been charged with one count of theft in office, one count of theft and five counts of forgery.
Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.