Drug deals cost Ohio officer workers' comp

COLUMBUS (AP) — The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that a disabled police officer’s drug dealing counted as a job and disqualified him from receiving state injured-worker benefits.

In a unanimous decision today, the high court ordered former Parma officer Donald McNea to repay the state for workers’ compensation payments he received from the first confirmed unlawful sale of OxyContin. Their decision upheld a lower court ruling.

McNea’s department was secretly investigating him for the illegal drug dealing when he was injured and placed on permanent total disability in August 2004. He was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison after being indicted on 20 counts of criminal activity, and his benefits were terminated.

Today's ruling means he’ll also have to pay back benefits he received before going to jail.