UPDATE | Ohio sheriff facing 25 charges pleads not guilty

ATHENS, Ohio (AP) — A southeastern Ohio county sheriff charged in a public-corruption case has pleaded not guilty to all 25 counts against him.

Athens County Sheriff Patrick Kelly denies any wrongdoing. The charges include theft in office, tampering with records and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

The 63-year-old Kelly was arraigned today and released on a personal recognizance bond. A pretrial hearing is scheduled Feb. 28.

Kelly is accused of improperly using public funds to buy meals and personal apparel, selling county property to a scrap yard, stealing copper wire from a county garage and failing to keep a cashbook tracking money he received in an official capacity, among other allegations.

The indictment also alleges his campaign didn’t properly report donations and funneled money through a personal bank account.